No-one in Ireland's World Cup camp has done as much homework on the Russians as John Ryan.
But the big prop's special studies came off the pitch rather than on it.
Ryan studied US foreign policy - and specifically the Cold War. "We'll stay away from that now, that's a different kettle of fish," he laughed.
The 31-year-old is delighted that his World Cup debut chance has at last come, as he is one of 11 changes in Joe Schmidt's starting line-up from the shock loss to Japan, and one of an all-Munster tight five in the pack.
Robbie Henshaw, who has been injured, is the only other player among the 31 yet to experience the tournament on the field.
"It's huge," beamed Ryan. "It's something you dream of.
"I've had my wait like no other man in the team, third game in and getting my first bit of the action, I'm looking forward to it now.
"I suppose you can remember all of those, 1999, 2003 - obviously we forget about 2007, keep that at the back of the mind.
"You probably don't dream of being there at that age, it's something that feels very much out of the reach.
"Here we are, we're at the World Cup and we've a big point to prove on Thursday."
Ryan knows that, with Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter around, if he is to stay involved beyond this game then he'll need a massive performance.
"I think every time you put on the jersey you are being told that you’re putting your hand up for selection for the next game," he said.
"But lessons were probably learned last week. It’s the next game, it’s not the game after that - it’s the one that’s right in front of you.
"I know. Personally I don’t need to be told that it’s an opportunity. If you perform, you can surely state your case. So I’m certainly not going to leave this one pass me by."
Ryan and his team-mates watched on the big screen in their hotel as Scotland beat Samoa on the other side of the port city - in a stadium that became a sweatbox with the roof closed.
"It looked like a hard game, conditions-wise. That's something we'll have to look at.
"It was a greasy ball, sweaty, humid. We're used to that at this stage.
"Two years ago I was here and there might not have been a roof over the pitch but it was very warm.
"We have to deal with more humidity here now but I think we're all more than able for it. We did our warm weather camps and our cooling strategies and all that.
"We essentially trained with bin bags under our jerseys just to get that uncomfortable feeling.
"To put it one way, it’s about being comfortable with being uncomfortable, that kind of way, so we’ve done that kind of side of things.
"I imagine we won’t need the bin bags on Thursday!"
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