Rugby

All Blacks refused to play delayed game at Rugby World Cup

October 11, 2019 12:02 pm

New Zealand Rugby Coach Steve Hansen and the All Blacks weren't keen on a delayed game against Italy.

Former England hooker Brian Moore says the All Blacks were not willing to play a delayed Rugby World Cup pool match against Italy.

World Rugby has cancelled the All Blacks game against Italy in Toyota City on Saturday due to Super Typhoon Hagibis, which is set to batter Yokohama and Tokyo with strong winds.

The All Blacks initially offered to move the game forward a day and play Italy on Friday, but that offer was declined by tournament organisers.

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Moore wrote on Twitter that New Zealand opted to stick to the rules that pool games affected by adverse weather would be cancelled rather than worked into a different schedule or venue.

New Zealand’s unwillingness to accept an offer to play on Monday sealed Italy’s fate at the tournament; ensuring they wouldn’t get a chance to cause the massive upset they needed to make the playoffs by beating the All Blacks for the first time.

Italy captain Sergio Parisse criticised World Rugby after its decision to cancel the game on Saturday because of the threat posed by Super Typhoon Hagibis, saying it wouldn’t have been cancelled had NZ needed a win to qualify.