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An English Championship side has left a World Cup team's preparations in tatters

Russia are being driven to distraction by their lack of form in the lead-up to the World Cup (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)

The credibility of the World Cup was dented on Tuesday when an English Championship club beat 2019 finalists Russia in their own Moscow back yard. 

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The Russians, who qualified for the finals on the back of the eligibility row that wrecked the 2018 Six Nations B championship in 2018, weren’t even supposed to be playing Jersey as they were initially scheduled to face Eastern European rivals Georgia. 

However, amid fears about safety in travelling to Tbilisi, the Russians cancelled that Test fixture and were instead left with egg on their face 23 days before they open the 2019 World Cup by taking on host nation Japan in the first match of the tournament in Tokyo. 

The Slava Stadium wasn’t supposed to be a scene for a big upset, but the Russians were unable to cope with a first-half Jersey onslaught which laid the foundation for a deserved 35-22 win by the lower league English side. 

Among the early blows in a contest where the visitors outscored the hosts by five tries to four was an opportunistic score by Luc Jones, the son of Russia boss Lyn who could only watch in anguish from the sidelines as the Jersey scrum-half took possession from the base of a scrum outside the 22 and raced on to regather his own chip kick over the defence.

Jersey led 28-12 at the break and while the Russians, who also face Ireland, Scotland and Samoa at the finals, were better in the second half, there was no denying the islanders a famous win over a country ranked 20th in the world heading to Japan. 

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It was the second big setback for Russia in recent weeks as they were walloped 85-15 by 13-try Italy in Trento and their lack of form should leave World Rugby administrators concerned about the competitiveness of the lowest ranked countries who will be making up the numbers in Japan. 

The anxiety about the Russians follows last weekend’s home 38-35 defeat in Ontario for Canada, who are ranked 21st, by a second-string Leinster side who are still in the very early stages of their PRO14 pre-season. 

WATCH: What rugby fans coming to Oita can expect at night during the World Cup in Japan

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J
JW 12 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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