Rugby World Cup 2011: Russia v USA – in pictures

Can Russia even play rugby, I hear you ask? Can the USA, I ask. The answer is soon to become apparent as these two nations face one another in Pool C. Before the game starts, let's enjoy some Cold War banter Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Where were they when America needed them in 1961? Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Right, down to the action. Louis Stanfill darts towards the opposition's try-line but is brought to ground by a tidy tackle from Yury Kushnarev. Evidently they can play rugby Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Russia's fly-half Yury Kushnarev kicks early points for his side Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Nonetheless, the USA are starting to impose themselves on the contest. Here, Andrew Suniula hurdles a tackle from Igor Klyuchnikov Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Scrum-half Mike Petri distributes the ball from a ruck Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Petri scores the only try of the first half when he dives between the posts after Roland Suniula's line-breaking run Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Looks like the lineout still needs a bit of practice Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

USA's Takudzwa Ngwenya watches his team-mates as they drive the Russia pack backwards Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

When the ball is fed back to him, Ngwenya makes a break but can't escape the clutches of Vasily Artemyev Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Todd Clever is next to make a charge, but again Artemyev and Alexander Shakirov are dogged in their resistance Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

So much for keeping your feet on the ground. Clever is driven into the turf head-first as the Russians pummel the Americans in the closing stages in a desperate attempt to close the seven-point deficit, but it proves futile as the USA win 13-6 Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

That's made up for the space race defeat Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images