Ireland's Rugby World Cup adventure is in doubt due to the weather, with a typhoon expected to make landfall in Japan around the same time as the side's final Pool A game against Samoa.
World Rugby rules state that if a game is called off due to the weather before half-time, each team would get a share of the spoils and leave with two points. However, two points would not be enough for Ireland to get to the last-eight if Scotland win their remaining games against Russia and the hosts Japan.
Former Ireland and Munster flanker Alan Quinlan has gone through the rules, and says, "if the game was called off, it would be deemed as a draw - Ireland would get two points.
"But, if Scotland won against Russia and beat Japan, they could go ahead and potentially put Ireland out. If the match starts and is abandoned in the first half it's deemed a draw as well, each team get two points.
"But if it gets to the second half, the stands at that point. It is being predicted there is a storm on the way, and that might not suit Ireland."
Typhoon Hagibis is believed to change into Super-Typhoon status, which would mean wind speeds of over 230 kilometres per hour.
However, the Ireland team camp says they are not even considering the possibility of the game being called off or changed. Joe Schmidt's defence coach Andy Farrell said, "the boys haven’t even spoken about it – we just go from day to day, get on with our preparations.
World Rugby has been in touch with us and they are as keen as we are to get this game played. I believe there’s a contingency plan in place. We just get on with our day job and best prepare every single day and we’ll see what comes with that.
"The weather forecast changes all the time anyway. So we won’t probably know until 48 hours out from the game.”
It has been reported in many outlets, including The Guardian that World Rugby's contingency plan may involve moving Ireland's game against Samoa to another venue that wouldn't be affected by Typhoon Hagibis.
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