the Blues suspended at typhoon and World Rugby

Published on : 09/10/2019 – 14:26

Kumamoto (Japan) (AFP)

Where will they face England in the World Cup on Saturday? The Blues still ignored it officially Wednesday evening in Japan, pending a decision by World Rugby against the threat of Typhoon Hagibis, which could lead to the relocation of the meeting, scheduled to Yokohama (suburbs of Tokyo).

Japanese weather experts warned Wednesday that Hagibis, one of the most powerful typhoons in recent decades in the region, is expected to hit the Tokyo area on the day of the meeting. If it could not compete in Yokohama (72,000 seats), the city of Oita (south) holds the rope, in a stadium (40,000 seats) behind closed doors, we learned from a source close to the management .

World Rugby, who can also cancel the match and give two points to each team (draw 0-0), must hold a press conference Thursday at 12:00 (05:00 French) on the evolution of Hagibis and its impact on meetings in Yokohama this weekend, where Japan-Scotland, decisive for the qualification, must also take place, Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Blues, who are already qualified (like the English), are preparing to play and are not disturbed by the vagueness.

"It's not like we have to go for the win to qualify, but of course it would be better to play because France-England are always apart, plus it's the World Cup. to prepare for the quarter-finals ", explained Camille Lopez Wednesday morning.

The opener and his teammates are in Kumamoto, about three hours drive from Oita, on Kyushu Island, the southernmost of Japan's four major islands. Oita, where they will play their quarter-finals on October 19th or 20th.

In the opener of this first cleaver game, the coach Jacques Brunel should line up against England's starting XV winner Argentina opening (23-21), with one exception, according to information from AFP: second line, Bernard Le Roux would be preferred to Arthur Iturria to bring additional physical density during the tough fight promised against the English.

– Guirado probable captain –

In the starting XV that will be announced Thursday at 10:00 (03:00 French), captain Guilhem Guirado would find his place in tailgating after replacing Camille Chat in the previous two meetings, against the United States (33-9) on Wednesday last and Tonga (23-21) on Sunday. Two games, especially the second, in which Cat shone.

Insufficient, however, a priori for the Racingman to supplant the captain again. As Alivereti Raka's performance against the Tongans (a try and a assist) should not allow him to dislodge Yoann Huget from his left wing.

Raka and Huget, like the other Blues, trained Wednesday at Suizenji Athletic Field, their only session sustained a week reduced between the match against Tonga Sunday and that against England on Saturday.

"Since we only had five days to prepare England, it was the only day we could put a lot of intensity, we saw a lot of things, and it was rather clean. ", explained the left pillar Jefferson Poirot. Suspended, like the whole delegation, to the decision of World Rugby.

The probable starting XV: Médard – Penaud, Vakatawa, Fickou, Huget – (o) Ntamack, (m) A. Dupont – Ollivon, Alldritt, Lauret – Vahaamahina, B. Le Roux – Slimani, Guirado (cap), Poirot

© 2019 AFP