Ireland lead Russians by eight points

Ireland are eight points up in their World Cup qualifier clash with Russia.

Latest score: Ireland 8

Russia 0

The Ireland management were playing down their favourites tag this week ahead of the first step on their road to Australia 2003, keen not to underestimate their opposition, but desperate to forge a more convincing performance than that shown in their 39-8 win over Romania at Lansdowne Road two weeks ago.

Russia

15 Alexander Zakarliouk (Krasny Yar), 14 Andreï Kuzin (VVA Podmoskovye), 13 Alexeï Sergeev (VVA Podmoskovye),12 Alexeï Korobeinikov (Enisei STM), 11 Igor Dymchenko (Enisei STM), 10 Konstantin Rachkov (Montauban), 9 Viktor Motorin (VVA Podmoskovye), 8 Viacheslav Zykov (Enisei STM), 7 Renier Volschenk (Krasny Yar), 6 Viacheslav Grachev (Montauban), 5 Sergei Sergeev - (C) (Montauban), 4 Valereï Fedchenko (Krasny Yar), 3 Johan 'Tenk' Hendriks (Krasny Yar), 2 Roman Romak (Enisei STM), 1 Oleg Shukailov (Krasny Yar).

Replacements

16 Alexeï Travkin (VVA Podmoskovye), 17 Igor Nikolaichuk (Krasny Yar), 18 Murat Uambaev (Grenoble), 19 Igor Budnikov (Enisei STM), 20 Werner Pieterse (Krasny Yar), 21 Pavel Novikov (Enisei STM), 22 Alexander Khrokine or

Rashid Sagdeev (Monino VVA / Krasny Yar).

Ireland

15 Girvan Dempsey, 14 John Kelly, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Denis Hickie, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Anthony Foley, 7 Keith Gleeson, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Malcolm O'Kelly, 4 Gary Longwell, 3 John Hayes, 2 Keith Wood (captain), 1 Reggie Corrigan

Replacements

16 Shane Byrne, 17 Paul Wallace, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Alan Quinlan, 20 Guy Easterby, 21 David Humphreys, 22 Rob Henderson.

Referee: Joël Jutge (France)

TJs: Chris White, Tony Spreadbury (both England)