Russia exit World Cup

Russia went out of the Rugby World Cup on a high on Saturday, losing their final match to Australia as expected but scoring three tries along the way for a 68-22 final score. After conceding seven tries in the first half, the plucky Bears plugged the defensive gaps and put together some penetrating moves of their own to record their highest points tally against their most formidable Pool C opponents. The Wallabies, patched up after a slew of injuries sustained against the United States, racked up another three tries to comfortably qualify for the quarterfinals. The result means Russia leave New Zealand bottom of the pool and winless in their first-ever World Cup after defeats to the United States 13-6, to Italy 53-17 and to Ireland 62-12. "It's a great finish. We've finished every game quite strong," said Kingsley Jones, Russia's technical director after the game.  "Early in the game we were like rabbits in headlights." Australia coach Robbie Deans appeared displeased with the Wallabies' second-half performance. "They played some good rugby," Deans said of Russia. Russia have left their mark on their debut tournament as a team that falls to pieces without the ball but knowing what to do when they get it: They conceded 29 tries in the four matches but registered a creditable eight along the way. Russia made six changes to the side that lost to Ireland, brining back captain Vladimir Korshunov, who got a leg injury against the United States. The Wallabies had an all-new back row after suffering a slew of injuries against the Americans, and a bad hamstring injury to Dennis Mitchell gives Robbie Deans even fewer players to choose from. Australia had five tries down before Russia managed to get into their 22. Radike Samo stormed down right, then the Australians moved it out left, where Berrick Barnes sidestepped Kushnarev to score the first try. Mitchell latched onto a kick from Barnes and outpaced Vladimir Ostroushko to go over for the second try, and a series of one-handed offloads ended with Ben McCalman running over for a spectacular third. David Pocock then scored after barging his way through a half-hearted tackle from Kushnarev, and minutes later squeezed through a gap to touch down for his second. The Bears' proudest moment in their short rugby history came on 33 minutes, when Ostroushko gathered a ball spilled by Luke Burgess and fended off a lunge from Nathan Sharpe to touch down. But Australia responded immediately through Stephen Moore, who was supplied by Mitchell after a darting run. Quade Cooper's grubber kick released Adam Ashley-Cooper for the Wallabies' final try of the half. The second half was a different affair as rain pelted the Nelson stadium and played havoc with the handling. It took three minutes to resume the try-scoring as Salesi Ma'afu managed to brush the ball against the line before it popped out of his control. Russia put three more points on the board with a drop kick from Konstantin Rachkov. Mitchell slid over in the corner for the Australians' ninth try of the match, one that was scored after just two passes from a penalty. Then came Russia's second try: 20-year-old wing Denis Simplikevich intercepted an errant pass from Quade Cooper for a free run at the line and Russia's second try. Rachkov scored an unlikely third try as the underdogs got just reward for some sustained pressure, sparking jubilant celebrations from the Bears as they overtook their points haul against Italy.   Australia had the last word as Barnes charged down a Russian kick to score complete the try-scoring a minute from time.