Ireland tame the Bears
Ireland put one foot in the quarter-finals with a 62-12 thumping of Russia in Rotorua.
Last Updated: 25/09/11 7:55am
Ireland put one foot in the quarter-finals with a 62-12 thumping of Russia in Rotorua.
Despite fielding a predominantly second string line-up, Ireland still had far too much class for the Bears as they racked up a much-needed bonus point win.
Fergus McFadden, Sean O'Brien, Isaac Boss, Keith Earls (2), Andrew Trimble, Rob Kearney, Shane Jennings and Tony Buckley all crossed for tries, while Ronan O'Gara kicked 15 points and Jonathan Sexton slotted over a conversion.
For Russia, they will go away knowing that they need to work on the fundamentals - particularly their discipline - if they are to become a future force in the game.
However they do perform with plenty of passion and play an attractive attacking style when given the opportunity.
And they were rewarded for their enterprise with tries through Vasily Artemyev and Denis Simplikevich, with Konstantin Rachkov converting one.
O'Gara set Ireland on their way after six minutes with a regulation penalty attempt in front of the posts after Russia had been caught offside desperately defending their line.
If Russia had been facing an uphill task at the start, they were facing Everest a minute later as Rachkov was sin-binned for a cynical deliberate knock-on.
And it was no surprise that Ireland registered their first try on nine minutes. A quick tap from Isaac Boss found O'Gara, who chipped over the defence for McFadden to slide in. O'Gara converted.
It was 17-0 after 13 minutes as O'Gara tagged on the extras after O'Brien powered through a big gap in the Russia defence.
Flourish
It looked as if a record score could be on the cards, but to Russia's credit they regrouped well and were able to push Ireland back - with Andrey Kuzin, Victor Gresev and Vladimir Ostroushko all impressing with the ball in hand.
However Ireland finished the half with a flourish as they crossed for three tries in four minutes.
First quick thinking from Boss saw the scrum-half touch the ball against the base of the post after a series of drives on the Russia line. O'Gara added the extras.
The bonus point score followed as Earls slid in - although the final pass from Andrew Trimble looked forward. O'Gara was successful with his fifth shot at goal.
And then Trimble hacked ahead and dived on the loose ball after an attempted professional foul from Andrey Garbuzov backfired - with the flanker lucky to avoid the sin-bin as he smacked the ball back from an offside position.
Ireland extended their lead to 43-0 eight minutes into the second half as Earls ghosted through for a try and O'Gara converted.
Russia finally got onto the scoresheet, though, when former Blackrock College and Leinster academy back Artemyev scythed through brilliantly after Alexander Yanyushkin's break. Rachkov tagged on the extras.
And the Bears crossed again when rising star Simplikevich scored on his debut, with the young winger showing immense power to finish off Ostroushko's break.
Normal service was resumed as Rob Kearney finished off a good break and O'Gara converted to bring up the half-century.
And Jennings got into the act as he burrowed over from close range with seven minutes left. Sexton added the conversion.
Giant prop Buckley, who had some issues in the scrum, had the final word for Ireland as he powered over some tired Russian tackling to score.
