Rugby World Cup: Typhoon should not dictate results, says Francois Pienaar
Former Springboks captain Francois Pienaar states it isunfair to allow adverse weather to order results at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Englands match against France, in addition to Scotland game against Japan, could be shunned by World Rugby due to the danger presented by Super Typhoon Hagibis. If they are cancelled at late notice they would be declared a draw Though theres the choice to transfer the matches.
This would not affect England considerably as they are through to the quarter-finals, however if Scotlands fixture against the tournament hosts does not go ahead it will end their World Cup campaign.
The World Cup was won by south Africa in 1995 but they did not make it. Kick-off for the game was pushed back once Kings Park was hit by torrential rain as well, even though the game eventually went ahead, had drama been possible France could have progressed to the last due to their superior disciplinary recording following the Boks had two individuals sent off at a pool game against Canada.
Pienaar has called on World Rugby to become adaptable in the way that it approaches the games which are going to be impacted by Japans weather.
We were fortunate because if that game didnt occur in 1995 we had been outside of this World Cup due to discipline, Pienaar said at the Street Soccer Scotland Annual Dinner in Glasgow.
It just seems unfair, it appears that you need to have that match played so that you are able to get a result.
If weather plays a dreadful part on the weekend, then 1 team is going to be ecstatic, another team will be bare.
Everybody has worked really hard. Should you work that hard and prepare yourself, allow weather influence the outcome of the match? It shouldnt.
I could see the difficulty as it is fourteen days, whats planned and ordered, but there needs to be flexibility. If theres bad weather circumstances one wants to readjust.
World Rugby has called a media conference at 12pm local time (4am BST) on Thursday to show its plans for the matches between Scotland and England.
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