CARDIFF’S Millennium Stadium was lashed by driving rain and gale-force winds on Friday, forcing officials to close the retractable roof ahead of Saturday’s World Cup final between Australia and France.
If the weather stays the same, the roof could remain closed for the showpiece final, tournament officials said.
The storms came just hours after South Africa beat New Zealand 22-18 in the third-place playoff on the same playing surface.
Millennium Stadium groundstaff were hard at work on the pitch Friday afternoon, working under the closed roof to protect the pitch from a further battering.
The state of the surface is causing concern.
“The pitch has been a bit of a problem but they are working on it with the system that they have got,” said World Cup chairman Leo Williams said.
“In terms of the roof being closed, we will take a decision on the day if we think that the weather could impact on the match.
The weather forecast for Saturday is for improved conditions, however, which would mean the roof could be left open.