The All Blacks final Rugby World Cup pool match against Italy has been called off due to Super Typhoon Hagibis, World Rugby has confirmed.
Photo: PhotoSport
The England vs France match in Yokohama on Saturday has also been cancelled.
New Zealand was due to face Italy in the city of Toyota on Saturday, although today's cancellation means the team still finish top of their pool.
These will be the first tests cancelled at a Rugby World Cup since the tournaments began in 1987.
The Ireland vs Samoa match on Saturday in Fukuoka City will still go ahead, as will the Australia vs Georgia match in Shizuoka on Friday.
World Rugby says it will make a decision on the Japan-Scotland match, scheulded to be played in Yokohama on Sunday, on Sunday morning.
All fans with tickets for a cancelled match will receive a full refund for the face value of their match tickets.
The All Blacks were scheduled to hold their team naming press conference at 4.30pm New Zealand time, but that has been pushed back an hour to 5.30pm.
In a statement, All Blacks management said it was an "exceptional, complex and rapidly evolving situation" and team and public safety was the number one priority.
"This has been central in all decision-making in partnership with the tournament's weather information experts, host cities, venues and teams."
Super Typhoon Hagibis is expected to hit Japan on Saturday.
Tracking #TyphoonHagibis across #Japan next few days.
— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) October 10, 2019
Clears away on Monday but main threat is across both Saturday and Sunday. 9 million people live in Tokyo. 127 million people live in Japan.
News, current status and additional maps on #Hagibis here: https://t.co/faC3Wn5kXb pic.twitter.com/AhvwznkiD7
Both teams will receive two points each for the cancelled match, meaning New Zealand will finish top of Pool B on 16 points, while South Africa will finish in second on 15.
Saturday 12 October
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 10, 2019
· Pool A match between Ireland and Samoa in Fukuoka at 19:45 JST to be played as scheduled
· Pool B match between New Zealand and Italy to be cancelled
- Pool C match between England and France to be cancelled
Italy will finish third on 12, missing out on the quarterfinals.
Despite the England vs France match being called off, it won't have any effect on their pool as both teams have already qualified for the quarterfinals.
The Japan vs Scotland is still going ahead at this stage, but if it is cancelled, then Japan would qualify for the knockout stages with Ireland, while Scotland would miss out.
