Pool C leaders Ireland made it a perfect three from three at the World Cup, albeit in a scratchy 62-12 bonus-point result over Russia on Sunday.
A new-look Irish side, containing eight changes from the one that set the tournament alight with an upset of Australia eight days earlier, ran in nine tries but would have been disappointed to concede two at the other end.
Their forwards were again dominant, although there were long periods where they failed to convert field position into points.
The 21st-ranked Russians were never going to trouble a side 15 places above them in the world but they kept the spirit befitting a nation at their first World Cup.
They stayed competitive throughout and after trailing 36-0 at half-time, managed to keep a closer 26-12 scoreline in the final 40 minutes.
Ireland no longer have the stingiest defence at the World Cup as a result, with their 28 points leaked now putting them behind England (22) and Australia (26).
The two sides had only met once previously at Test level, a 35-3 win to Ireland in the unlikely rugby surroundings of Siberia in 2003 World Cup qualifier.
Tries came in clumps in the first half as Ireland scored their first two in as many minutes from the 11th minute, while Russia had a man in the sin-bin.
They then scored three in three minutes just before halftime.
The man marched for 10 minutes was Russian fly-half Konstantin Rachkov, for knocking down an Irish pass.
He watched on as Ireland opened their account through wing Fergus McFadden from a pinpoint Ronan O'Gara crosskick – where Russia's backline was caught short on numbers – then flanker Sean O'Brien went over in the next attack.
It took 25 minutes for the somewhat disjointed Irish to go in again, but they did so three times and earned a bonus point in the process.
Scrum-half Isaac Boss' cheeky effort against the base of the goalposts was first, followed by a fine finish in the left corner by centre Keith Earls and another to wing Andrew Trimble, whose break and final pass set up Earls.
Earls, seen as the heir apparent to veteran centre Brian O'Driscoll, made it a double seven minutes into the second half, waltzing his way through the midfield with a left-foot step.
If anyone thought that would open the floodgates, they were wrong. The next two tries both went to Russia, with fullback Vasily Artemyev and wing Denis Simplikevich making it five to the Bears' backline in the tournament.
Ireland held sway for the final quarter of an hour, fullback Rob Kearney, replacement Shane Jennings and prop Tony Buckley adding their names to the list of try scorers.
All that is required to be the top qualifier from Pool C is victory over Italy in Dunedin next Sunday. They would play the runner-up of Pool D in the quarter-finals, which is likely to be Six Nations foe Wales.
Russia's gallant World Cup comes to an end a day earlier, against Australia in Nelson.
Follow ITV Rugby on Twitter
Sign up for our ITV Rugby email alerts