Ireland increased their chances of topping Pool C after a nine-try 62-12 demolition of Russia at Rotorua International Stadium on Sunday.
With just six players backing up from the 15-6 win over Australia, they still maintained their lead over the Wallabies in Pool C heading into the final games.
The 25,000 capacity crowd generated a homely feel for for Ireland. And they raced to a 43-0 lead eight minutes after half-time before giving their key men a rest and giving Russia the chance to score two late tries.
The Irish will sew up Pool C with a victory over Six Nations rivals Italy in Dunedin next Sunday. The Italians still have to face USA which gives Ireland a definite advantage.
Ronan O’Gara was named the man of the match in his 115th Test, and extended his Irish scoring record to 1,054 points with 15 points from six conversions and a penalty.
The Irish applied the pressure from the kick-off, the Irish having 14 phases on the Russian try line before they lost fly-half Konstantin Rachkov to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock down.
While Rachkov was in the bin Ireland cashed in with two converted tries to Fergus McFadden and flanker Sean O’Brien.
O’Gara was everywhere and his goal-kicking and general kicking was superb.
But when Rashov returned late the Irish scoring slowed and it took them until late in the half to run in three tries.
New Zealand-born halfback Isaac Boss scored and centre Keith Earls finished off a break from winger Andrew Trimble.
Ireland finished the half in great fashion when Trimble made the most of Andrey Garbuzov’s error to score for a 36-0 lead at the break. O’Gara’s sideline conversion attempt struck a the post costing him an unblemished kicking performance.
Earls went over for his second try eight minutes after the break and was taken straight off as Ireland looked ahead to their next match with Italy.
Russia had their best moment when fullback Vasily Artemyev scored a classy try, slicing through and then standing up Rob Kearney to score.
The Russians scored when winger Denis Simplikevich brushed off McFadden and Trimble to score the Bears’ second try on the hour. But Ireland powered on with the replacements’ bench cleared and they added three more tries to Kearney, Shane Jennings and Tony Buckley.
Ireland 62
Tries: Earls 2, McFadden, O’Brien, Boss, Trimble, Kearney, Jennings, Buckley
Cons: O’Gara 5, Sexton
Pen: O’Gara
Russia 12
Try: Artemyev, Simplikevich
Con: Rachnov