All Blacks sympathise with Italy after 'no-brainer' cancellation

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup - Pool B - New Zealand v Canada - Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan - October 2, 2019 New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

TOKYO (Reuters) - All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said cancelling Saturday's World Cup match against Italy due to Typhoon Hagibis was a 'no-brainer' but he also had sympathy for the Azzurri after they were denied a chance to play for a place in the quarter-finals.

Italy's slim hopes of staying in the tournament were wrecked by Thursday's decision to scrap the Pool B match in Toyota. Both teams were awarded two points, meaning world champions New Zealand will move on as pool winners while Italy go home.