Ireland will have little time to overcome their arduous journey to Siberia before playing Russia in a Rugby World Cup qualifier on Saturday (1100 BST).

The Irish party were delayed for three hours in Moscow before boarding their 1,400-mile onward flight to the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk.

Eddie O'Sullivan's players reached their destination on Thursday night, 18 hours after leaving their County Wicklow hotel.

But coach O'Sullivan has played down concerns that his team could be feeling the effects of jet-lag when they take on the Russians.

'Well organised'

And he expects a tough match against Russia.

"We think we know what they are about but when we get there on Saturday we will see what they are really about," he said.

"They have a pacy full-back, quite a big athletic back-row with South African influence in it and they can kick their points as well.

"There is not too much wrong with them as a team. They are well organised.

"It will be a different challenge because we have not played in Russia before.

Good spirits

"I think it is going to be a hostile environment with 20-30,000 fairly partisan people.

"So it will be a test of character for us."

The players were reported to be in good spirits, having worked out on the plane.