Russia winger Vasily Artemyev admits he has extra motivation to perform well during the Rugby World Cup, as he prepares to face off against some familiar faces in Pool C.
The 24-year-old winger is a Muscovite born and bred, but swapped Russia for the Republic of Ireland in his teens, attending Blackrock College and then University College Dublin.
And Artemyev admits that he has been looking forward to lining up against some old friends in the Irish ranks since the draw for Pool C was announced, pitting Russia against Ireland in the sides' third game of the pool stage in New Zealand.
"It'll be a happy moment for me to see some of the guys I haven't seen in a few years," Artemyev told ITV, speaking with just the hint of an Irish accent - picked up, no doubt, during his schooldays.
"You always play against guys you know, so it's not going to affect the structure of the game or my game personally."
Artemyev arrives in New Zealand as Russia's star player, having been signed by Aviva Premiership side Northampton Saints for the 2011-12 season.
But though he developed his game playing in Ireland, the winger actually honed his skills on the less well-known fields of Zelenograd, a suburb of Moscow and Artemyev's birthplace.
"In Zelenograd there are a couple of good underage rugby clubs," he said. "They've been around for a few decades, and it's kind of notorious as a good underage rugby school.
"I was lucky enough to get involved with the sport when I was young and I never really looked back."
From Russia to the Republic of Ireland
Signing for Northampton represents an important career step for Artemyev, and he argues that Russia's talent base is high, with "up to ten guys" in the 30-man World Cup squad who could play at a similar level.
Nevertheless for both Artemyev and Russia this is a first taste of the Rugby World Cup, and as the second-lowest ranked side (above only Namibia) taking part in the tournament, the Bears may struggle.
But Artemyev is looking forward to proving a few of the nay-sayers wrong in New Zealand.
"I can tell you we have good backs as well as a good pack of forwards," he said. "We lack a bit in some areas, which do require some technical coaching, and it's not just something that will happen overnight.
"But that can be fixed in time with some top-class coaching which we are getting right now.
"I think just getting a win out of the pool games that we play will be a definite top-class positive result," he added.
"Regarding the other games, we just want to perform well, we want to be seen by the rugby community across the world that we're a good team and that Russians can actually play rugby."
The Russian Rugby World Cup team are sponsored by premier rugby brand, Canterbury of New Zealand. For more information on Canterbury kit and base layer products please visit www.canterbury.com
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If England are going to recapture the magic that brought home the Rugby World Cup in 2003 they need excellence from one to 15 and a strong bench.
The centres has been a problem area for England for some time now but getting it right in midfield will be essential.
Over the years England have had some great centre pairings. My favourite: Jerry Guscott and Will Carling. Two very different players who dovetailed well throughout the 90s.
Jerry Guscott was a breathtaking player. Back when shirts looked more like marquees and weighed a ton, Guscott managed to run and jink like a young gazelle. For England he was the spark in midfield, the player they looked to make something happen.
Will Carling was a totally different animal, whose shirt always fitted snugly before Sir Clive Woodward’s innovation of skin tight jerseys. His muscular build and upright running style gave him a brutish effectiveness in the contact area. While Guscott was a pure athlete with the natural gifts to play in midfield, Carling was an effort man guaranteed to give you a hundred percent whatever the conditions.
Guscott would go on to partner Will Greenwood in the England midfield but by 2003 his role at outside centre had been taken by a man with a more direct in style, Mike Tindall.
Like Guscott and Carling, Tindall and Greenwood worked well because they were very different. Tindall was the hard running, gritty and defensive element . Will Greenwood was a rangy runner, not with the same pace as Guscott but with the ability to craft an angle and a knack of being there to finish off a move – not to mention his soft hands. Greenwood was the Roy Keane to Tindall’s Paul Scholes.
So how will Engand’s Martin Johnson line up his centres at the World Cup?
Riki Flutey is arguably the most talented centre in the England squad but he is struggling for form after recovering from injury. If Flutey can rediscover the magic that made him a prominent Lion in 2009 then he would be my first choice 12, but that is a big if.
Alongside him on Saturday was Manu Tuilagi who barreled over for a debut try. Tuilagi is clearly an option for outside centre, although his inexperience and questions over his temperament may prevent Johnson from starting him.
This Saturday expect to see Shontayne Hape and Mike Tindall line up for the return against Wales. This was Johnson’s preferred centre combination during the 6 Nations, but it lacks creativity and reeks of conservatism. But it could be the option if England are looking to keep it tight during the World Cup.
Tindall could be pushed to inside centre to allow for either Tuilagi or Flutey to play outside him. Jonny Wilkinson could move to inside centre to allow Toby Flood to start at fly-half.
England also have Matt Banahan, another powerful runner whose direct style will certainly be a threat. Expect to see the Bath man used as an impact substitution through the middle or on the wing.
Plenty for Johnson and Brian Smith, England’s attack coach, to mull over in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup. Get the centre combination right and England will look smooth and steady. Get it wrong and they will look awkward and hulking.