Rugby World Cup: Typhoon should not dictate results, says Francois Pienaar
Former Springboks captain Francois Pienaar states itsunfair to allow adverse weather to dictate results at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
World Rugby as a result of hazard presented by Super Typhoon Hagibis could, cancels englands match against France, in addition to Scotlands significant game against Japan. If they are cancelled at late notice they would be declared a draw although theres the option to move the matches.
As they are through to the quarter-finals England would not affect greatly, however it will likely finish their World Cup campaign, when the fixture against the tournament hosts of Scotland doesnt go ahead.
They nearly did not make it during their semi-final against France because of the weather although south Africa won the World Cup in 1995. Kick-off for the match has been pushed back when Kings Park was hit by torrential rain as well, although the game eventually went ahead, had drama been potential France could have progressed to the final because of their superior disciplinary recording following the Boks had 2 individuals sent off in a pool match against Canada.
On World Rugby, Pienaar has called for that reason to be more adaptable in the way that it approaches the games which are going to be impacted from Japans weather.
Were lucky because if that game didnt occur in 1995 we had been out of this World Cup because of discipline, Pienaar said at the Street Soccer Scotland Annual Prize in Glasgow.
It only sounds unfair, it seems that you want to at least have that match played so which you could find a result.
If weather plays a terrible part on the weekend, 1 team is going to be ecstatic, another team is going to be desolate.
Everyone has worked hard. Why, should you work hard and also prepare yourself, allow weather influence the results of the match? It should not.
I can see the difficulty since its six weeks, whats planned and ordered, but there needs to be flexibility. If theres bad weather circumstances one needs to readjust.
World Rugby is now called a press conference at 12pm local time (4am BST) on Thursday to reveal its plans for the matches between Scotland and England.
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