Russian head coach, Nicolai Nerush referred to the hpc as a word class facility.

“You can be proud on what you achieved here at the hpc. As a sport centre it compares adequately with the best the rest of the world can offer. If everything goes to plan, we will back at the hpc in 2010,” added Nicolai.

Winger Vasili Artelyev, who spent seven years in Ireland and has the accent to prove it, says the hpc is very user friendly.

“It is a brilliant one stop facility as you have everything either under the same roof or within easy walking distance. Here you can eat, sleep, swim, train and play rugby without making use of any transport to do so.”

Vasili confirmed it took some serious acclimation for some of the players who left Russia with the temperature at -48°C just to arrive in Pretoria where it was a sunny 33°C.

Russia will play the Blue Bulls Vodacom Cup side on 18 January at Loftus Versfeld before flying off to Windhoek for a test match against Namibia.