An interesting footnote on their travel résumé perhaps, but once it was over the overriding feeling in the Irish camp in Siberia was that it was time to go home. Seven time zones stood between the weary travellers and the comfort of their Co Wicklow retreat where they will prepare for the final step on their World Cup rehabilitation.

That comes against Georgia on Saturday at Lansdowne Road. At least for that game they can cover the distance to the stadium in minutes.

"We were very tired and couldn't put pace on the game," Ireland's coach Eddie O'Sullivan said after his side had laboured their way to the finish on Saturday.

"We compounded that early on by trying to play the game in our own half instead of taking the wind to put us down in the corners. Also our lineout throws didn't go well. All in all I'm happy with the result and to get out of here.

"I certainly think though that travel was an issue. We tried to minimise it but, whether you like it or not, coming seven times zones across the world and playing a game is a big ask and it worked against us."

There were other factors, too: a lineout that coughed up five possessions in the first half, and a continuity game that was more stop, wait and start again. By O'Sullivan's reckoning the shortcomings of his own team kept the Russians in the match. They should have played the percentages earlier on.

So when they trooped out for the second half, with the advantage of an 18-0 lead, they adopted a policy of containment. Naturally enough, against a team with plenty of brawn up front but precious little skill behind, they succeeded.

And with that they were gone. A modest four tries scored and none conceded. In all of that the only real element of satisfaction on a balmy evening in Krasnoyarsk was that it was all over.

For Russia's South African coach James Stofberg, though, it was only beginning. They never had a chance of winning this, but their own chances of overcoming Georgia - having drawn with them earlier in the year - are decent. And all the time they are heading in the right direction.

Russia: Zakarlyuk; Kuzin, Dymchenko, Korobeinikov (Pieterse, 73), A Sergeev; Rachkov, Motorin; Shukailov (Budnikov, 72), Romak, Hendriks (Travkin, 62), Phedchenko, S Sergeev (capt), Grachev (Umbaev, 62), Zykov, Volschenk.

Pen: Pieterse.

Ireland: Dempsey; Kelly, O'Driscoll, Maggs, Hickie; O'Gara (Humphreys, 74), Stringer (G Easterby, 74); Corrigan, Wood (capt; Byrne, 74), Hayes (P Wallace, 70), Longwell (Cullen 68), O'Kelly, S Easterby (Quinlan, 70), Foley, Gleeson.

Tries: Dempsey 2, Wood, O'Kelly. Cons: O'Gara 3. Pens : O'Gara 3.

Referee: J Jutge (France).