The Latest: Whitelock sympathizes with angry Parisse

TOKYO (AP) — The Latest on Day 22 at the Rugby World Cup (all times local):

12:45 p.m.

New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock has sympathized with Italy captain Sergio Parisse blasting Rugby World Cup organizers for their pool match being cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis without a backup plan.

Parisse believed Italy was disrespected, and their match in Toyota scheduled for Saturday when the typhoon should hit, would not have been cancelled if the defending champion All Blacks needed the points to reach the quarterfinals. Italy missed out.

“It is ridiculous that there was no Plan B, because it isn’t news that typhoons hit Japan,” Parisse said on Friday. “We had the chance to play in a big stadium, against a great team. The alternative is Plan B. When you organize a World Cup you should have one in place. Sure, if Italy and New Zealand decide they don’t want to play then fine, but if New Zealand needed the points, it wouldn’t have been cancelled.”

Whitelock, who has never been in a typhoon, understood where Parisse was coming from.

“It’s a bit of frustration coming out,” he said.

Whitelock has dealt with cancelled games before, when Crusaders Super Rugby home matches in Christchurch were called off in 2011 because of the deadly earthquake, and last March after the deadly Mosque shootings.

“In both instances you understand why,” Whitelock said.

“Rugby’s just a small thing. We tend to get carried away with it a little bit, we’re so passionate about rugby, and we always want to go out and play, but sometimes the right thing is not playing. There would be nothing worse than if we did play and people were getting hurt.”