England coach Eddie Jones has welcomed the cancellation of his team’s final pool game against France for safety reasons.

Organisers called Saturday’s game off with typhoon Hagibis set to bring violent winds and torrential rain to Tokyo and Yokohama at the weekend.

England and France were already assured of a place in the quarter-finals before their highly anticipated showdown, but as a result of the game being called off, Jones’ team finish as Pool C winners, while Jacques Brunel’s French side go through as runners-up.

Jones said that while England were disappointed about not playing France at the World Cup, it was something they had to live with.

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‘We found out officially this morning. There were rumours flying around last night so we were glued to our phones last night. World Rugby has made a decision and we’ve got no issue with it and we’re just getting on with it now,’ Jones said.

‘The Japanese have a saying – “shikata ga nai” and it means “nothing can be helped”. You can’t help typhoons. We all like to think we’ve got power above and beyond what’s in the world at the moment, but we don’t – these things happen and you just ride with it.’

When probed about the long nine-day turnaround before their quarter-final, which is likely to be against the Wallabies, Jones said he is happy for the extended break before the playoffs.

‘We are not concerned at all, we are excited, absolutely excited, a great opportunity.

“Who would have thought we would have two relatively easy games [against Tonga and the United States], one tough game [against Argentina] and then two weeks to prepare for a quarter-final? So, someone is smiling on us – the typhoon gods maybe?’

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