BRISBANE is crammed with rugby fans from all over the UK now, the red of Wales, the blue of Scotland and the English rose all well in evidence in readiness for the weekend's World Cup quarter-finals in the colourful city.

The fact that all three teams are staying in the city adds to the appeal for supporters who have flown around the world.

We were having a meal sat outside last night, for example, when Martin Johnson and Jonny Wilkinson strolled by while this morning there was a merger between England and Scotland as Simon Shaw, Josh Lewsey and Kenny Logan, all of whom play for Wasps, were immersed in conversation .

Logan is always around, though he copped it yesterday afternoon when he was having a coffee with wife Gabby, the well known TV football presenter and daughter of former Wales boss Terry Yorath.

Welsh fans recognised the leggy, dishy-looking blonde instantly and started chanting her name. Kenny just had to take it, which he did in good part.

But I took exception, though not too violently, when the hotel pool sun loungers this morning were all occupied, not by Germans, but by half the Scottish rugby team. As I didn't fancy getting thrown in I left it at that.

Ian McGeechan and Gregor Townsend were buried in books while the rest seemed intent on getting a tan which is not a bad idea considering the rigours of the winter we are about to experience. What a rotten thought!

Media attention is huge as well, and I counted 70 journalists at last night's England Press conference attended by Johnson and Wilkinson, and that doesn't count photographers and camera crew.

There's more Aussie bashing from former players in today's papers, led this time by former flanker and skipper Simon Poidevin who accuses the team of being sterile and not playing to their strengths.

Aussie coach Eddie Jones, meanwhile, is stepping up the pressure on opposite number Ian McGeechan by accusing him of trying to con referee Steve Walsh in delivering a public wish list while also insinuating McGeechan would send the Scots out with foul play tactics similar to those Jones claims McGeechan's 1989 British Lions adopted.

But the threat of a confrontation between Wales coach Steve Hansen and Jonathan Davies has been removed because Davies is flying into Melbourne, not Brisbane, this weekend for the New Zealand-South Africa and France-Ireland quarter-finals.

Wales get four players in the Brisbane paper's team of the week - Iestyn Thomas, Jonathan Thomas, Stephen Jones and Shane Williams. England have just one - five-try Josh Lewsey.

The England-Wales game is being refereed by Ireland's Alain Rolland.