Eddie Jones, the England head coach sits on the team bus after the announcement of the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool C match against France on Thursday. Getty
Eddie Jones, the England head coach sits on the team bus after the announcement of the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool C match against France on Thursday. Getty
Eddie Jones, the England head coach sits on the team bus after the announcement of the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool C match against France on Thursday. Getty
Eddie Jones, the England head coach sits on the team bus after the announcement of the cancellation of their Rugby World Cup Pool C match against France on Thursday. Getty

Eddie Jones has little sympathy for Scotland if typhoon seals their exit from the Rugby World Cup


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England coach Eddie Jones insists Scotland will have only themselves to blame if they are knocked out of the Rugby World Cup, as Typhoon Hagibis threatens the Scots' game against Japan.

Jones, who spent many years in Japan as coach of their national team, said the situation should not have come as a surprise to the Scots, who could see themselves exiting the competition if their match on Sunday is cancelled.

"We've been talking about it all the time, about the possibility that this was going to happen ... It's typhoon season here and you've got to be prepared for it," said Jones, whose England team won all three matches to top Pool C.

"We had an idea it could happen and therefore you have to accumulate points in your games to put yourself in the right position in case that happened."

Tournament organisers took the unprecedented step at a Rugby World Cup to cancel Saturday's matches between England and France and New Zealand and Italy on safety grounds, with the powerful Hagibis set to strike Tokyo.

"This is supposed to be a big typhoon, so I don't see any other option that the organisers had," said Jones.

Scotland find themselves in a precarious situation after losing their opener 27-3 to Ireland.

Unless Ireland fail to register a point in their match against Samoa on Saturday, the Scots will need to beat hosts Japan in Yokohama on Sunday to reach the quarter-finals.

But if their fixture is scratched due to the typhoon, two points from a draw will send them home barring a Samoa shock on Saturday.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said: "If you want to be really ruthless, then it's all about making sure you win the games on the way through because everyone knew this could be a possibility."

Scotland's toughest pool game, however, was probably their opener against Ireland and some critics argue the order of their fixtures should not have a bearing on quarter-final qualification.

A final decision on whether the Japan-Scotland match in Yokohama goes ahead is set to be delayed until the morning of the game.

Scottish Rugby issued a strongly-worded statement on Thursday saying it "fully expects contingency plans to be put in place to enable Scotland to contest for a place in the quarter-finals on the pitch".

But World Cup tournament director Alan Gilpin said organisers had to abide by the same rules that had led them to cancel Italy's game insisting "we won't treat that [Japan-Scotland] match any differently".

Scottish officials, however, are now reportedly considering legal action to ensure the game goes ahead.

They dispute World Rugby's interpretation of their own rules, arguing tournament organisers can overlook regulations in order that matches be played, which the Scots maintain is the overriding imperative.

Scotland are also relying on a 'force majeure' clause in the tournament participation agreement which includes a reference to "storm or tempest".

This would appear to cover Typhoon Hagibis, with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend saying: "I've since been told there is a force majeure [provision] and things can change because of exceptional circumstances."

Townsend, though, seemed confident that the match would go ahead. "We've been told now that Sunday looks clear," he said. "Saturday is the day the typhoon comes in and it comes through quite quickly."

"What may happen is infrastructure might not be in place even though the weather is nice.

"That's what we've got to believe and have faith that the game will be played even if it's behind closed doors or a different venue.

"If it's played elsewhere in Yokohama or Tokyo on Sunday, there are lots of venues that might not be affected by the weather."

Fight card

1. Featherweight 66kg: Ben Lucas (AUS) v Ibrahim Kendil (EGY)

2. Lightweight 70kg: Mohammed Kareem Aljnan (SYR) v Alphonse Besala (CMR)

3. Welterweight 77kg:Marcos Costa (BRA) v Abdelhakim Wahid (MAR)

4. Lightweight 70kg: Omar Ramadan (EGY) v Abdimitalipov Atabek (KGZ)

5. Featherweight 66kg: Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Kagimu Kigga (UGA)

6. Catchweight 85kg: Ibrahim El Sawi (EGY) v Iuri Fraga (BRA)

7. Featherweight 66kg: Yousef Al Husani (UAE) v Mohamed Allam (EGY)

8. Catchweight 73kg: Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Ahmed Abdelraouf of Egypt (EGY)

9.  Featherweight 66kg: Jaures Dea (CMR) v Andre Pinheiro (BRA)

10. Catchweight 90kg: Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Juscelino Ferreira (BRA)

Meydan race card

6pm Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m 

6.35Dubai Trophy – Conditions(TB) $100,000 (Turf) 1,200m
1,800m 

7.10pm Jumeirah Derby Trial – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (T)
1,800m ,400m 

7.45pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB)  $180,000  (T) 1,800m 

8.20pm Al Fahidi Fort – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,400m 

8.55pm Dubawi Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $150,000 (D) 1,200m 

9.30pm Aliyah – Rated Conditions (TB) $80,000 (D) 2,000m  

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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz

The biog

Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns

Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Food of choice: Sushi  

Favourite colour: Orange