The Azzurri will now line up in Pool C alongside New Zealand, Scotland and fellow qualifiers Romania, who beat Spain 43-20 in Madrid on Saturday to secure their place at rugbys top table in France next September.

Bortolami said: It was extremely important for us to win this match.

Russia proved to be tough opposition and we had to work hard. We are delighted to have qualified for Rugby World Cup 2007 in France and we can now look forward to preparing for the tournament through the November Tests and Six Nations.

Russia coach Blikkies Groenewald has not yet given up on his countrys qualification hopes.

He said: Our chances are still very much alive.

Today we played a very good team, but there were indeed positives and we will not be disheartened.

We can now look to the Portugal game as another opportunity to advance in qualifying.
The qualification of Italy and Romania means that all but four of the 20 places at next year's World Cup are taken.