Russia warming to task in World Cup preparations
The Russians are enduring 20 degree temperatures in the North Island, as they get some vital outdoor training ahead of September’s World Cup. During the camp they will play a number of local Kiwi teams over the next few weeks.
It is a long way from the freezing temperatures these players normally experience, as New Plymouth — the Irish base for the World Cup — bakes under the strong Southern Hemisphere sun.
One player, born in Russia, educated in Ireland, knows more than most about the challenges ahead in their RWC pool contest against Brian O’Driscoll and co.
Vasily Artemiev, 23, is just after adjusting to the 10-hour time difference from Moscow, and a change of temperature from minus 15 degrees Celsius.
“It’s a lovely area here, a nice little town, with good weather. It’s the same kind of temperature as in Russia, only with a plus sign,” the winger laughed.
“We know we have a lot of work to do here. Our World Cup group is very tough — Australia and Ireland — will be the best teams. I know the Irish type of play from my time there — I know we find it very difficult.”
For the moment though, with the tournament still some eight months away, he said it was good to be doing fitness work outside.
“In the winter in Russia you can hardly train outdoors, we do a lot of indoor track training, games, and weight sessions,” the former UCD student said.
“So being here, it’s a good opportunity to come out and train in the heart of rugby in the world and be put through some really professional training and face class rugby sides.”
Artemiev has been playing rugby since he was nine but got more exposure to the game when he was sent to school in Ireland as a 15-year-old to learn to speak English.
He went to Blackrock College and won schools Junior and Senior Cup medals there.
His representative honours include Leinster Schools,U19s & U20s, Irish Schools & Irish U’19s. He was also involved in the successful Irish Universities side in 2007.
He completed a Bachelor of Law at UCD, before returning to Russia.
He said rugby in general was popular in Siberia and the Moscow region, with many players from those areas making the trek to New Plymouth.
Training also includes a bit of translation work for Artemiev, who helps convey instructions from England-born coach Steve Diamond.
However, he said his team mates weren’t too bad at understanding English.
“They can understand well, it’s the speaking part they struggle with.”
Artemiev said he was looking forward to going to the beach and doing some fishing later in the week.
“It’s great being near the ocean. It’s not that often that we come to places like this from Russia.”
Ireland play Russia on September 25 in Rotorua.
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