BLAME GAME; RUGBY WORLD CUP SPECIAL; World Rugby Slap Down SRU after Chief Executive Dodson Threatens to Take Legal Action over Typhoon Row; RUGBY WORLD CUP; SCOTLAND ARE Slapped Down; World Rugby Hit Back at SRU after Dodson Threatens Legal Action
WORLD RUGBY chiefs went on the offensive last night - with Scotland and SRU chief executive Mark Dodson firmly in their sights.
With tomorrow's game against Japan hanging in the balance with super typhoon Hagibis expected to cause havoc, Dodson broke cover to confirm the SRU had taken legal advice and demanded the Test in Yokohama is moved or rescheduled.
He backed claims that the World Cup's credibility has been called into question as sentiments grew that cash-rich nations have received favourable treatment.
And Sportsmail understands the threat of legal action remains should the match not go ahead.
Such a scenario would see Scotland tumble out of the tournament, an outcome that has provoked fury within Scottish rugby's governing body.
'We took legal advice that challenged the view and then we got a QC from a leading sports practice in London, Nick DeMarco, who backed the fact there is flexibility in the schedule,' said Dodson. 'The last thing we want 'I regret not hugging Mandela' FRANCOIS PIENAAR INTERVIEW: PAGES 122-123 to do is get tied up in legal matters but there is now a legal opinion that supports our view.
'We don't want to get in some sort of legal arm wrestle with World Rugby, we don't want to criticise World Rugby, but we do believe that we are being timed out in this competition - and being timed out is not a comfortable place to be. Scotland will be collateral damage and it is not something we will be prepared to sit back and take.
'This country has a phenomenal track record of getting things back running once they've had major disasters - they are probably the best in the world at doing so. We're just saying, give them that little bit of time where the sporting integrity of this tournament is not compromised.' But in an unprecedented attack on a senior office bearer of a Tier One nation, World Rugby made clear their own anger at Dodson playing politics at a time when the host nation was worried lives were at risk at the hands of the super typhoon.
In a strongly-worded statement that pulled no punches and made clear there was no prospect of a 24-hour extension, they 'It is disappointing that Scottish Rugby Union should make such comments at a time when we are doing everything we can to ey said: t the on he FOR NEWS dailymail.
Sunday's matches to take place as scheduled, and when there is a real and significant threat to public safety owing to what predicted to be one of the largest and most destructive typhoons to hit Japan since 1958.
'Along with the 19 other teams, the Scottish Rugby Union signed the Rugby World Cup 2019 terms of participation, which clearly state in Section 5.3: "Where a pool match cannot be commenced on the day in which it is scheduled, it shall not be postponed to the following day, and shall be considered as cancelled. In such situations, the result shall be declared a draw and teams will be allocated two match points each and no score registered".
'As outlined during Thursday's media conference in Tokyo, the core principle that could enable us to explore a departure from the terms of participation, is a fair and consistent application of the rescheduling for all teams in a safe environment for teams, fans and essential match services.
'The sheer predicted scale and impact of the typhoon, and the complexity of team movements for eight matches, meant that an even-handed application was just not possible without putting safety at risk. Therefore, it was the fair and correct decision for all teams to maintain the position outlined in the terms of participation.' Last night, it was confirmed that a stadium inspection will take place at 6am local time tomorrow - when the effects of Hagibis will still be keenly felt. A decision is expected two hours later meaning fans back home should know the outcome by midnight tonight.
Dodson has been lobbying feverishly to get the match delayed 24 hours - an outcome that would infuriate Italy, who are still seething that their World Cup campaign ended when their match with the All Blacks, due to take place in Toyota this morning, was cancelled. …
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