Pool C - Australia v Russia

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Australia 68 - Russia 22

Berrick Barnes of Australia is tackled by Vladislav Korshunov and Ivan Prishchepenko of Russia during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Russia at Trafalgar Park on October 1, 2011 in Nelson, New Zealand.

( September 30, 2011 - Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Australia ease past spirited Russia
Despite picking up a bonus-point win, Australia produced a Jekyll & Hyde showing in their 68-22 Pool victory over Russia in Nelson on Saturday.
Australia looked set to give the Bears a hiding from the kick-off as Australia opened the scoring with five minutes played, Berrick Barnes stepping and going in untouched. However, James O'Connor missed the resulting conversion.
Man of the match: Yet again the presence of David Pocock was a massive plus for Australia. With him they look like they could beat the Springboks, without him we are not so sure. He scored two tries in just 40 minutes, with another mention going to Luke Burgess.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7214771,00.html
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David Pocock of the Wallabies offloads the pass as he is tackled to the ground by Vasily Artemyev of Russia during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Russia at Trafalgar Park on October 1, 2011 in Nelson, New Zealand.

( September 30, 2011 - Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Australia finishes 3-1
Russia finishes 0-4
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Pool C Ireland v Russia

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Nine-try Ireland hammer Russia

Cian Healy of Ireland is tackled by Andrey Garbuzov of Russia during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Ireland and Russia at Rotorua International Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Rotorua, New Zealand.

( September 24, 2011 - Photos by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Ireland strengthened their chances of topping Pool C after claiming a nine-try 62-12 win over Russia at Rotorua International Stadium on Sunday.

With only six players backing up from the 15-6 upset of Australia at Eden Park last weekend, they still maintained their three-point lead over the Wallabies in Pool C heading into the final games.

A mass of green among the 25,661 capacity at the Rotorua venue generated a homely feel for for Ireland. And they steamed to a 43-0 lead eight minutes after half-time before taking off their key men and giving Russia the chance to get on the scoreboard with two late tries.

The Irish will lock up Pool C with victory over Six Nations rivals Italy in Dunedin next Sunday, with the Italians to first play the USA on Tuesday.

Fly-half Ronan O'Gara, the official man-of-the-match in his 115th Test, extended his Irish scoring record to 1,054 points with 15 points from six conversions and a penalty before he was replaced with 15 minutes remaining.

Man of the match: We have mentioned him time and time again but flanker Sean O'Brien continues to impress. He was a tower of strength for the Irish and deserved his first-half try.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7200018,00.html

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Sean O'Brien of Ireland is tackled by Sergey Popov of Russia during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Ireland and Russia at Rotorua International Stadium on September 25, 2011 in Rotorua, New Zealand.

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next test:

10-1

Russia v Australia

Nelson

*

10-2

Ireland v Italy

Dunedin

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Pool C - Italy v Russia

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Italy ran in nine tries to hammer Russia 53-17 in a rather one-sided World Cup Pool C encounter at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Tuesday.

The result means Italy move level with Australia on five points in a pool that could have a massive impact on the make up of the play-offs.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9989_7189988,00.html

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next test:

9-25

Russia v Ireland

Rotorua

*

9-27

Italy v USA

Nelson

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Pool C - USA v Russia

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USA resist Russian charge

John van der Giessen (L) of USA gathers the loose ball as Denia Antonov of Russia and Hayden Smith of USA contest a lineout during the IRB 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Russia and the USA at Stadium Taramaki on September 15, 2011 in New Plymouth, New Zealand.

( September 14, 2011 - Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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The USA held on for a 13-6 win over World Cup debutants Russia in an enthralling encounter in New Plymouth on Thursday.

The USA led 10-3 at the break thanks to a fantastic try from scrum-half Mike Petri but had to wait until deep in the second half to add a penalty to give themselves some breathing room.

Despite what the scoreline might suggest, there was plenty of good rugby on offer. Unfortunately the very wet conditions did not help as driving rain, in the second half in particular, made handling very difficult.

Man of the match: The US dominated the breakdown zone and Mike MacDonald put in plenty of graft as well as being solid at scrum time.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7177957,00.html

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next test:

9-20

Russia v Italy

Nelson

*

9-23

USA v Australia

Wellington

****