Japan v Scotland: World Cup Pool A decider on after stadium inspection

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Scotland's Blair Kinghorn during the match with Russia
Rugby World Cup Pool A: Japan v Scotland
Venue: International Stadium Yokohama, Yokohama Date: Sunday, 13 October Kick-off: 11:45 BST
Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Scotland, Radio 5 Live, plus text updates on the BBC Sport website and app.

Scotland's World Cup game with Japan will go ahead on Sunday, World Rugby has confirmed.

Gregor Townsend's men would have been eliminated from the World Cup had the Pool A finale been cancelled.

The game was under threat from Typhoon Hagibis, with a switch of dates already ruled out.

The host nation lead Scotland by four points after three victories and a cancellation would have resulted in the match being declared a draw.

Group rivals Ireland have secured their place in the last eight with a bonus-point win over Samoa.

Scotland must now take four more points than Japan to progress to the quarter finals.

The pool runners-up will face New Zealand in the last eight next Saturday, while the pool winners will face South Africa next Sunday.

An inspection of the stadium in Yokohama by World Rugby took place at 22:00 BST on Saturday, with an announcement made nearly five hours later.

The New Zealand v Italy and England v France games scheduled for Saturday were cancelled.

Sunday's World Cup Pool B match between Namibia and Canada in Kamaishi was also cancelled because of safety concerns.

World Rugby rules state that "where a pool match cannot be commenced on the day in which it is scheduled, it shall not be postponed to the following day and shall be considered as cancelled. In such situations, the result shall be allocated two points each and no score registered".

Pool A

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1283 comments

  • Comment posted by Tim Boyde, at 07:21 13 Oct 2019

    It is only fair that Scotland get the chance to be knocked out on merit.

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 07:20 13 Oct 2019

    Firstly, I hope those affected by the Typhoon have managed to escape harm.

    This is a victory for rugby and the integrity of the tournament.

    However, if I was Italy, I would be furious. Would they beat the All Blacks? Highly unlikely. However, you can’t win if they don’t let you buy a ticket! They deserved their chance, and it shouldn’t have been taken away from them.

  • Comment posted by despite brexit, at 07:19 13 Oct 2019

    Feel most rugby fans will be supporting Japan for this game

  • Comment posted by Blackcountryglaws, at 07:27 13 Oct 2019

    To be absolutely clear: the decisions on postponements have nothing to do with integrity of tournament or fair play. It is 100% a safety issue. It's not a heavy shower or a bit of snow, here but some extreme life threatening weather. The pathetic threats of legal action from Scotland had this game not gone ahead deeply crass given circumstances.

  • Comment posted by peterwinchester, at 07:23 13 Oct 2019

    For the fans who’ve spent their £ to travel out there - I am really pleased.

    I only hope this decision is because the Typhoon and safety risks are ok, & not pressure from SRFU.

  • Comment posted by diesel001, at 07:19 13 Oct 2019

    Scotland got what they wanted.

    Now hopefully Japan beat them.

    Scotland's behaviour has been poor. First, from the arrogance that they wanted the game to go ahead because they would win. Second, from the threats to World Rugby of legal action if the game didn't go ahead.

    Go Japan!

  • Comment posted by Dave 9000, at 07:48 13 Oct 2019

    Just read the devastating news that at least 18 people have lost their lives.
    Puts it all in context really.
    My sympathies to Japan and its people.

  • Comment posted by U17884257, at 07:16 13 Oct 2019

    For all that's been said about the wider context of events, I'm glad that these teams get to do their job, play rugby.

    Hope it's a cracker. All the best Scotland

  • Comment posted by Bertie_Bigwhistle, at 07:17 13 Oct 2019

    COME ON JAPAN!

  • Comment posted by BrutalLogiC, at 07:30 13 Oct 2019

    As a Brit I support all the home nations and have served my country however with Japan as hosts, the way they deservedly beat Ireland and the hardship of the typhoon all make it hard not to cheer them on also. May the best team win and keep the hostile comments away from here.

  • Comment posted by morebalanceplease, at 07:21 13 Oct 2019

    Great news, it would have been terrible to see Scotland go out in that way.

    Or to see Japan denied the opportunity of another Tier 1 scalp.

    Should be an absolute cracker.

  • Comment posted by Dave 9000, at 07:22 13 Oct 2019

    I think we can all agree that having the game played was the best outcome, but only when it was safe to do so.
    Looking forward to Scotland joining us in the QF. ☘
    But they will have to play well against a well organised, determined Japan- who also would deserve to go through.
    Game On - literally 😁 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇯🇵

  • Comment posted by Bigballer69, at 07:20 13 Oct 2019

    Right decision especially since the game actually has significant consequences for both teams.

    It's still a farce to have given England and France a by for their toughest group fixture and an extra weeks recovery.

  • Comment posted by Glad All Over - CPFC, at 07:40 13 Oct 2019

    Some serious anti-Scotland message on here this morning. Everyone needs to grow up.

    If places were switched and, for example, England played France first and lost and Tonga then beat France with England playing Tonga last - do you think the RFU would just say - yeah fair enough, we can’t play?

    No, we would fight to get the game played no matter what, as would any other nation.

    Grow up.

  • Comment posted by U17736835, at 10:28 13 Oct 2019

    Not really a rugby forum is it?

    More a platform for an embarrassing display of childish bickering and insult.

    Shows how insecure people are, how unhappy, and how much misguided importance some put on what is just a game.

    All the fun and enjoyment is missing.

    Sad, isn't it?

    Sympathy to Japan in the aftermath of Hagibis. Their rugby fans have been spectacular!

  • Comment posted by ALurPAL, at 08:46 13 Oct 2019

    As a Scot, I'm embarrassed at the stance taken, threatening legal action. It's in the rules that were signed.

    Concentrate on the devastation that has happened; 18 dead so far, millions asked to leave their homes, untold devastation to people's lives and livelihoods.

    I apologise on behalf of fair minded Scots and wish the lovely Japanese people a speedy recovery from this devastation.

  • Comment posted by CraigB, at 07:47 13 Oct 2019

    Hope we, Scotland, win through for the players and fans. However, the behaviour of the SRU in this matter has been distasteful. Peoples lives at risk and they start all sorts of threats after signing up to the rules.

  • Comment posted by paul hirst, at 07:44 13 Oct 2019

    Whoever wins this match, I wish them well and hope it's a good game. The ones I feel most sorry for here are poor Namibia, think about it this is a team that's been involved in Tournament for 20 years and has suffered nothing but beatings and never won a single game. The opportunity to break their duck against a mediocre Canada side has been quashed because of the typhoon.

  • Comment posted by Scotbrit, at 07:27 13 Oct 2019

    I thought that childish silly comments were for football supporters and not the gentleman's game of rugger. Get a life guys!!!

  • Comment posted by patrick, at 07:25 13 Oct 2019

    @6 Scotland don't assume they will win the game, they wanted the opportunity to win the game or indeed to go out of the tournament on their own terms.

    It should be a cracking game, may the best team

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