Australia v Russia, Rugby World Cup, October 1
Fresh meat for try-hungry Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
September 26, 2011
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Wallabies lock Nathan Sharpe, Rugby WA Headquarters, Perth, Australia, June 20, 2011
Nathan Sharpe has played 97 times for the Wallabies © Getty Images
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Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup
Teams: Australia | Russia

Australia and Russia meet for the first time when they collide at Trafalgar Park in Nelson on Saturday.

A rout is expected, with tournament newcomers Russia having lost all three of their games to date and the Wallabies having bounced back from their shock defeat by Ireland with an 11-try demolition of the USA last weekend.

However, while the Wallabies' backs are likely to enjoy themselves, it would be a surprise if the Aussies went even remotely close to surpassing their record points haul in a World Cup match, which was set eight years ago on home soil when they annihilated Namibia 142-0, still the biggest margin of victory in the tournament's history.

The Wallabies ran in a record-breaking 22 tries that day in Adelaide, with fullback Chris Latham dotting five times alone and winger Mat Rogers contributing 42 points overall - a Wallabies record.

There is, though, only one survivor from the 22 which faced the Namibians in 2003 and that's veteran lock Nathan Sharpe, who is currently just three caps shy of his 100th appearance for the Wallabies.

Click here for Australia's Test record courtesy of Statsguru

Click here for Russia's Test record courtesy of Statsguru

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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