Japan and Scotland were set to meet in a crunch Rugby World Cup clash on Sunday after they got the late go-ahead despite chaos caused by Typhoon Hagibis, which claimed 14 lives as it smashed through Japan.
Organisers gave the green light for the Pool A showdown and two other games, but they pulled the plug on Namibia’s meeting with Canada in Kamaishi, which was badly affected by the storm.
Tonga beat USA 31-19 as attention returned to rugby after a difficult few days caused by the typhoon, which prompted the first cancellations in the World Cup’s 32-year history.
The two teams observed a poignant moment’s silence before the anthems at the Hanozono Stadium near Osaka before playing out an entertaining but error-strewn game.
Wales’ match against Uruguay in Japan’s southwest will also go ahead as scheduled, with Warren Gatland’s men seeking a win that will see them top Pool D and set up a quarter-final with France.
But tournament director Alan Gilpin said he had “no option” but to scrap the Namibia-Canada match scheduled in Kamaishi — a town devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami — due to flooding and landslides.
Namibia coach Phil Davies, a former Welsh international, backed the “logical” cancellation given “safety is paramount”.
“I’ve never seen so much rain and being from Wales we see a lot of rain, but it’s been phenomenal and it was the right decision,” said Davies.
Images posted on social media showed the Canadian players helping out with the clean-up operation, as captain Tyler Ardron admitted it was “disappointing” not to play.
AFP
