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Italian captain Sergio Parisse has slammed the cancellation of his country’s match against New Zealand on Saturday. Earlier today World Rugby made the announcement that two of Saturday’s three scheduled matches have been cancelled.
The decision officially means that the result is a 0-0 draw and sees Italy eliminated from RWC 2019. Parisse commented to reporters:
“It is difficult to know that we won’t have the chance to play a match against one of the great teams. If New Zealand needed four or five points against us it would not have been cancelled.”
“It is ridiculous that a decision of this nature has been made because it isn’t like the fans arrived yesterday.
“It is ridiculous that there was no Plan B, because it isn’t news that typhoons hit Japan. The alternative is Plan B. When you organise a World Cup you should have one in place.”
Americas Rugby News has learned that New Zealand was against playing on a postponed date. New Zealand team management was concerned about having reduced rest days ahead of their Quarter Final against one of Japan, Ireland, or Scotland.
In contract to the standpoint on the issue from New Zealand is that from Italy. Americas Rugby News can confirm that in the event of a cancellation due to weather Italy wanted the match to be rescheduled.
The Italians had a 2-1 record heading into their scheduled match against New Zealand in Toyota. They claimed bonus point victories over both Namibia and Canada before falling against South Africa. With South Africa having three wins, the same number as New Zealand the Italians were officially still in with a shot at reaching the Quarter Finals.
Of note is that in 2014 a severe storm in the Mediterranean Sea saw a test match between Italy and Argentina in Genoa brought forward by one day from Saturday to Friday.
