Ireland got their World Cup qualifying off to a winning start with a 35-3 victory over Russia in Krasnoyarsk.

The visitors lead 18-0 at half-time thanks largely to a brace of tries from Girvan Dempsey. Fly-half Ronan O'Gara added a conversion and two penalties.

Skipper Keith Wood grabbed their third try shortly after the break and they soon had their fourth through Malcolm O'Kelly.

O'Gara converted both efforts and added another penalty before the home side got on the scoreboard with a penalty in the closing moments from flyhalf Konstantin Rachkov.

The Irish, who had endured an 18-hour journey on Thursday from their Irish base to the eastern Siberian city, got off to an ideal start, settling any pre-match nerves when Dempsey latched onto a second-minute crossfield kick from O'Gara to touch down in the corner.

Out-half O'Gara missed the conversion but was soon in good company as his Russian counterpart Konstantin Rachkov missed an eighth-minute penalty.

O'Gara was back on song midway through the half when he sent over two penalties in quick succession to put an end to a spell of consistent Russian pressure.

Full-back Dempsey popped up again in the 29th minute, providing a passing option outside right wing John Kelly and touching down in the corner for his and Ireland's second try of the match.

This time O'Gara converted and Ireland were 18-0 ahead and set fair to build a match-winning score.

Eddie O'Sullivan's side were not performing without problems however, with their lineouts in particular trouble.

And when giant Russian lock and captain Sergei Sergeev stole another Keith Wood throw just before half-time, it led to a passage of Russian pressure which led to a penalty being awarded by French referee Joel Jutge.

Rachkov, however, blew the chance to give Russia their first points of the match by sending his attempted kick wide of the posts and Ireland went in at the break with their 18-0 lead intact.

The Irish seemed intent on finishing the Russians off as the game restarted and were firmly on the offensive as the second half began.

But they had to wait 13 minutes before they were rewarded. That was when captain Keith Wood charged over the line after fine work by flanker Keith Gleeson. O'Gara converted and the lead was stretched again eight minutes later when another forward, second row Malcolm O'Kelly got on the scoresheet with his fourth international try.

O'Gara was once again on target with the conversion and another successful penalty kick, his third out of three, eased the Irish into a 35-0 lead with 12 minutes of the match to go and the game over as a contest.

Irish coach O'Sullivan further drew the sting out of the game by throwing on all seven substitutes to wind down the clock in the remaining minutes.

The final moments, however, belonged to the Russians as they got their first points on the board with a 78th-minute penalty goal from replacement kicker, South African-born Werner Pieterse.

But Ireland ultimately took the plaudits, despite the late sin-binning of front row Reggie Corrigan for a high tackle, and a comfortable victory means O'Sullivan's side are firmly on track for World Cup finals spot.

They now face Georgia at Lansdowne Road next Saturday while the Russians travel to Tbilisi to play Georgia on October 13.

Ireland host Georgia next weekend at Lansdowne Road in their second qualifier.

The remaining six nations in the Europe region are competing for four finals positions and a place in the Repechage (1) round. The teams are divided into two pools:
Pool A - Ireland, Georgia, Russia
Pool B - Spain, Italy, Romania

Each country will play one match against the other teams in their pool. In Pool A, the winner will advance to the finals as Europe (1) and the runner-up will advance as Europe (3). In Pool B, the winner will secure the Europe (2) position and the runner-up will become Europe (4).

The teams finishing at the bottom of each Pool will play a home-and-away series, with the winner advancing to the Repechage (1) rounds as the Europe qualifier.

Ireland side:
Girvan Dempsey; John Kelly, Brian O'Driscoll, Kevin Maggs, Denis Hickie; Ronan O'Gara, Peter Stringer; Reggie Corrigan, Keith Wood (c), John Hayes; Gary Longwell, Malcolm O'Kelly; Simon Easterby, Keith Gleeson, Anthony Foley.

Replacements: Shane Byrne, Paul Wallace, Leo Cullen, Alan Quinlan, Guy Easterby, David Humphreys, Rob Henderson.

Russia side:
Alexander Zakarliouk, Andreï Kuzin, Alexeï Sergeev, Alexeï Korobeinikov, Igor Dymchenko, Konstantin Rachkov, Viktor Motorin, Viacheslav Zykov, Renier Volschenk, Viacheslav Grachev, Sergei Sergeev (C), Valereï Fedchenko, Johan Hendriks, Roman Romak, Oleg Shukailov.

Replacements:
Alexeï Travkin, Igor Nikolaichuk, Murat Uambaev, Igor Budnikov, Werner Pieterse, Pavel Novikov, Alexander Khrokine.