Cold War rivalry resumes in Rugby World Cup

Cold War references for tonight's match have been flying thick and fast. Photo / Getty Images

Just another World Cup game between minnows? Forget about it.

From the moment the draw was made, Cold War references for tonight's match have been flying thick and fast.

Ideology once provided a lurid backdrop for sporting clashes between these two countries. Whether it was the Olympics or chess, a victory for the Stars and Stripes or Hammer and Sickle was a tick in the box for either capitalism or communism.

The war of ideas might have crumbled along with the Berlin Wall, but the sporting culture clash remains. It is not something either team is running away from, even if USA assistant coach Dave Hodges admits most of his players are too young to remember the real thing.

"There certainly is a rivalry there," Hodges said. "Going back through the 80s and my formative years in sport, every time you played Russia was a big rivalry.

"While some of that has gone because of where we are now politically, there's still a little bit there. It's not as intense as it used to be, but they're still a power in the world and our players realise that."

Russian captain Vladislav Korshunov said that as far as he was concerned, "it's not politics, it's just a game. It's competition."

Not totally free of politics, however.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexandre Zhukov has travelled to New Plymouth to support the team. Zhukov has influence. He is heavily involved in the Russian Olympic Federation and the Sochi Winter Olympics.

He likes rugby apparently and likes the fact it is about to enter the Olympics in its sevens form. It is not overstating it to say that a win against a team from the US could prove beneficial for a sport trying to gain some cut-through in that vast land.

Hodges said all the noise in the lead-up to the tournament was that Russia were targeting this match.

"We're under no illusions they're going to come after us [tonight]."

It makes sense. Neither side is expected to progress beyond pool play.

Ireland have already beaten the US and will surely do the same to Russia in Rotorua on September 25. Even though Italy should have too much Six Nations savvy for the minnows.

So this game is not just about bragging rights, but most likely the Pool C wooden spoon.

The USA will be desperate to avoid that, given this is the first time their matches have been broadcast on a major network back home.

NBC is airing the games through Universal Sports - it's also being screened in Russia. USA captain Todd Clever said coverage would complement burgeoning playing numbers.

"Rugby is growing hugely in numbers across the States," Clever said. "I've been reached out to by many new fans who have said it's great to see us on major TV."

The "shop window" does not just extend to getting more fans. Clever, a 28-year-old flanker who impressed with the Lions in Super rugby, acknowledged the only way for his country to catch up to the tier-one nations was for more players to get contracts in European or Sanzar professional leagues. Once that happened and the States started to beat some of the big sides, then a professional domestic league was the next step.