Russian rugby's crucial World Cup play-off with Uruguay for place at England 2015

It was in the candlelit sanctuary of the Pokrovsky Cathedral in Krasnoyarsk,
not their training base in the Siberian capital city, that members of the
Russia squad sought their final inspiration on the eve of Saturday’s World
Cup qualifying match against Uruguay.




The Russian Rugby Union had even asked permission for the Webb Ellis Trophy to
be in the cathedral as Alexander Voitov, the giant Russia captain, and
several team-mates bowed their heads in prayer before kissing a silver cross
held by the priest.




The venue for this first-leg match at Krasnoyarsk’s Central …