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Sergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby\u2019s \u201cridiculous\u201d decision to cancel Italy\u2019s World Cup match against New Zealand.<\/p>\nSergio Parisse has hit out at World Rugby\u2019s \u201cridiculous\u201d decision to cancel Italy\u2019s World Cup match against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
Super Typhoon Hagibis is due to hit Japan this weekend and World Rugby has cancelled the clash, along with England\u2019s meeting with France.<\/p>\n
While improbable when facing the back-to-back world champions, a victory for Italy over New Zealand would have sent the Azzurri into the last eight.<\/p>\n
And veteran number eight Parisse has pulled no punches in criticizing tournament organizers for not relocating the fixture or altering the match day, instead simply cancelling the encounter and awarding both teams two match points.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is difficult to know that we won\u2019t have the chance to play a match against one of the great teams,\u201d said Parisse.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf New Zealand needed four or five points against us it would not have been cancelled.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is ridiculous that a decision of this nature has been made because it isn\u2019t like the fans arrived yesterday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is ridiculous that there was no plan B, because it isn\u2019t news that typhoons hit Japan.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure everyone might think that Italy versus New Zealand being cancelled counts for nothing because we\u2019d have lost anyway, but we deserved to be respected as a team.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had the chance to play in a big stadium, against a great team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe alternative is plan B. When you organize a World Cup you should have one in place.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand boss Steve Hansen admitted he would have been frustrated had he been on the receiving end of the raw deal that Italy now find themselves lamenting.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019d had a choice, we would have rather played Friday (instead of Saturday) but it wasn\u2019t our choice, it was out of our control,\u201d said Hansen.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to back World Rugby\u2019s decision and if other teams miss out, it\u2019s unfortunate, it\u2019ll be disappointing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you want to be really ruthless, then it\u2019s all about making sure you win the games on the way through because everyone knew this could be a possibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s pretty hard-nosed, though, because I know if we were in their situation we\u2019d be disappointed not to have the opportunity to get there.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo yes, there\u2019s a lot of sympathy for them. But the right decisions are being made, because it\u2019s all about safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always a risk at this time of year with the typhoons, but this is when we play the Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you play it earlier, you run the risk of people dying on the footy field because it\u2019ll be 40 degrees.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you play it later, then that\u2019s when we are finished for Christmas, so you\u2019d have Santa Claus giving us the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s fallow weekend hands Hansen\u2019s men an effective two-week build-up to the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
If Scotland\u2019s clash with Japan is also cancelled due to the typhoon, then New Zealand will end up facing Ireland in Tokyo on October 19.<\/p>\n
Captain Kieran Read said the All Blacks will happily adapt to their extended break.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be ready to go next week,\u201d said Read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis cancellation will have no bearing on how we turn out next week. We\u2019re excited by it. We know what we\u2019re doing and it\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n