Ospreys overpower Russia in World Cup warm-up

Russia were overpowered 46-19 by the Welsh regional side Ospreys in their penultimate game of their four-match tour of Britain ahead of the Rugby World Cup next month. The Ospreys notched up seven tries at the Liberty Stadium on Sunday to consign the Bears to their third-consecutive tour defeat after previous losses to the Northampton Saints and the Newport Gwent Dragons. Statistically the performance was the Bears' best so far on the tour in terms of points won and conceded. Hanno Dirksen scored two tries for the hosts, with Tom Isaacs, Kristian Phillips, Ashley Beck, Andrew Bishop and Matthew Morgan also touching down. Russia, coached by former Wales captain Kinglsey Jones, scored through prop Ivan Prishchepenko, wing Vasily Artemyev and replacement Denis Simplikevich. The match was the final chance for Jones to fine-tune his World Cup team ahead of today’s deadline to submit squad lists. Russia play Gloucester on Friday in their final warm-up before their first-ever appearance at the World Cup, which kicks off in New Zealand on September 9. Russia start their Group C campaign against the United States on September 15 before facing Italy, Ireland and Australia.