Bookmakers unmoved by threat of Super Typhoon Hagibis to key closing pool games

Bookmakers are largely unmoved by the threat of Super Typhoon Hagibis to this weekend's key Rugby World Cup closing pool games, particularly between Ireland and Samoa on Saturday, but also possibly New Zealand's meeting with Italy, England versus France, Wales against Uruguay and Scotland's battle with hosts Japan.

The All Blacks are still 6-5 favourites to complete a Webb Ellis Cup hat-trick. Ireland are still 1-100 to qualify and 8-11 to win Pool A. And while Japan have been clipped to 11-10 for group glory by Sky Bet and Scotland have been snipped to 100-1 in the outright betting by Coral and Ladbrokes, 6-5 and 200-1 are still available about these outcomes.

The charts are not yet certain that torrential rain and 120-160mph winds will hit the cities of Fukuoka, Toyota, Kumamoto and Yokohama but if Rugby World Cup matches are cancelled then they are declared 0-0 draws with two-point hauls only.

In Pool A, Ireland would be eliminated if their game was declared a draw and Scotland managed to pick up nine points from their games with Russia on Wednesday and the hosts in Yokahama on Sunday. The Brave Blossoms will top the section if they pick up at least two points by any means or deny Scotland a try-bonus victory and stay within seven points in defeat.

If the All Blacks' clash with the Azzurri is declared a draw then they will still claim top spot in Pool B.

A cancellation draw for England v France in Yokohama would confirm a Red Rose-Les Bleus forecast in Pool C while in Pool D, the outcomes of Wednesday's Wales v Fiji and Friday's Australia v Georgia games will clarify the picture. If the Dragons beat the Flying Fijians with a bonus point then two points on Sunday would be enough to book top spot because they edged out the Wallabies in their group meeting.

Head-to-head result is the first Rugby World Cup pool order and qualification deadlock-breaker.

Quarter-final draw

Saturday Oct 19 Pool C winner v Pool D runner-up, Pool B winner v Pool A runner-up
Sunday Oct 20 Pool D winner v Pool C runner-up, Pool A winner v Pool B runner-up

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