Wood warns of danger of raucous Russia

KEITH Wood is ready to put a traumatic week behind him when he leads Ireland into the unknown on Saturday, when they travel to Siberia to face Russia in a World Cup qualifier.

Wood’s return is the only change from the team that saw off Romania in Thomond Park two weeks ago. Brian O’Driscoll has recovered from his thigh strain, while other injury doubts, Ronan O’Gara, Girvan Dempsey and Peter Stringer are all fighting fit and ready to face 30,000 passionate Siberians.

O’Gara is on the mend from his ear laceration, which means David Humphreys will start on the bench. The out half, whose ear is still stitched, was rested by Munster last weekend and knows the dangers of taking the unheralded Russians too lightly.