Rugby World Cup – Russia profile: Full squad, head coach, key player, prediction and odds

A closer look at Lyn Jones’ side ahead of Japan 2019

Russia head to the Rugby World Cup in what will be their second-ever appearance at the competition, having featured in the 2011 edition.

The country failed to win a single game in New Zealand, and the chances of suffering a similar fate seem high this time around. Lyn Jones’ side has been drawn in Pool A, alongside Ireland, Scotland, hosts Japan and Samoa.

Russia’s qualification to Japan 2019 came amid unusual circumstances after Romania – who had initially secured the Europe 1 slot – Spain and Belgium were docked points for repeatedly using ineligible players during the qualifying competition.

“We’ve landed a hot-spot in the Rugby World Cup by default, so we’ve got a mountain to climb,” Jones explained.

The side, ranked 20th in the world, will be looking to rely on the experience of fly-half Yuri Kushnarev, who has 106 caps and 758 points to his name, as well as Sale lock Andrei Ostrikov and former Northampton back Vasily Artemyev.

Squad

Forwards: Vasily Artemyev, German Davydov, Vasily Dorofeev, Igor Galinovsky, Ramil Gaysin, Dmitry Gerasimov, German Godluk, Kirill Golosnitsky, Yuri Kushnarev, Vladimir Ostroushko, Dmitry Perov, Denis Simplikevich, Vladislav Sozonov, Sergey Yanyushkin

Backs: Azamat Bitiev, Sergey Chernyshev, Bogdan Fedotko, Tagir Gadzhiev, Andrey Garbuzov, Kirill Gotovtsev, Victor Gresev, Roman Khodin, Evgeny Matveev, Valery Morozov, Andrey Ostrikov, Vladimir Podrezov, Andrey Polivalov, Stanislav Selsky, Anton Sychev, Nikita Vavilin, Evgeny Yelgin, Vitaliy Zhivatov

Head coach

Lyn Jones. The Welshman is known as something of a maverick in Welsh rugby circles, having coached Ospreys to two Celtic League titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup victory. Speaking of his side last year, he said: There’s a lot of good rugby players in Russia, and it’s a sleeping giant. There are lots of plans for the long-term development of the game; at the moment it’s about the short term, but there’s lots of good things going on.”

Key player

Yuri Kushnarev​. The fly-half was a member of the first Russian squad to compete at a Rugby World Cup, so knows what to expect competing on the highest level of the international game. The 34-year-old is Russia’s most titled player, having picked up silverware with a host of clubs during his career, including 11 Russian Championships and two European Rugby Continental Shields. His experience will no doubt be drawn upon as the Bears attempt to navigate a difficult group and improve upon their 2011 outing.

Past record

New Zealand 2011 – eliminated in the pool stages.

Yuri Kushnarev kicks a penalty during a Europe Championship match between Russia and Belgium (Getty)

Prediction

Such is the quality of teams in Pool A, the Bears will do remarkably well to avoid finishing last. They look set for another early elimination.

Fixtures

• Friday 20 September – Japan vs Russia (11:45am)​, Tokyo
• Tuesday 24 September – Russia vs Samoa (11:15am)​, Kumagaya
• Thursday 3 October – Ireland vs Russia (11:15am)​, Kobe
• Wednesday 9 October – Scotland vs Russia (8:15am), Shizuoka

Odds

Russia to win the World Cup: 5000/1