How Others Saw It.

‘Yet for all the hassle involved there should be cause for both concern and revision in the Irish camp. They played much the same style of game as against Romania and again it didn’t work. The coaching staff has serious issues to address with their lineout, their inability to free quick ruck ball and most worryingly, their approach to breaking the gain line once the ball has slowed down.’ – Brendan Fanning, The Sunday Independent.

‘The Russians had contributed so much to this World Cup qualifier that they deserved to register that fact on the scoreboard, no matter if the final scoreline was misleading. There was a good deal less sympathy for a jaded-looking Irish side after a horribly flat performance.’ Peter O’Reilly, The Sunday Tribune.

‘With a performance as bleak as the stadium it was delivered in, Ireland overcame the Russians at the Centralny and took one weary step towards World Cup qualification.’ – Tom English, The Sunday Times.

‘Despite putting their faith in the Argonne aviation anti-jet lag programme in a bid to keep tiredness at bay didn’t produce rich reward as a largely lethargic side staggered to the finishing line to eventually claim their expected win.’ – Liam Heagney, Ireland On Sunday.

‘Ireland can reflect on a tough job well done as they recuperate in their County Wicklow training camp this morning. Their exhausting weekend trip to Siberia and back was full of surprises but the prospect of a shock result never loomed large.’ – Brendan Gallagher, The Daily Telegraph.

‘Uninspiring but efficient; businesslike, bloody hard work and outta here. Running on to a singed, rock-hard surface at the Centralny Stadium with heavy legs, never mind when they trudged off it, Ireland got the job done.’ – Gerry Thornley, The Irish Times.

‘We’re not jumping up and down that we beat Russia. We expected to come over here and win far more convincingly. But nor are we gnashing our teeth. Tough trip, tough job but job done.’ – Irish captain, Keith Wood.