CANBERRA - The quietest capital city in the world. That's the label we are all attaching to the Australian capital after only one full day here.

London, Paris, Rome and the rest of the world's capitals, they all have things in common - they are teeming with people and they are buzzing with life and atmosphere.

Even other Aussie cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are alive. But Canberra? Environmentally attractive, maybe, but otherwise one big nothing. There is nobody here and very little to do. Even by day, there isn't much activity, but by night the capital resembles a ghost town - or city, I should say.

In fact, it reminds me very much of our first stay in South Africa for the 1995 World Cup.

That was in Bloemfontein, the Afrikaaner farming stronghold on the high veldt which shut down completely after 7pm when not a soul walked the streets.

But that was because of fear. Fear of escalating violence in South Africa, so much so that people stayed indoors, often behind barbed wire fences, to protect themselves and they did their entertaining in-house.

But there is nothing to be afraid of here unless it's the odd wandering kangaroo. Where is everyone? What are they all doing? Bars are nearly empty, restaurants have barely a smattering of people and there are only a few on the streets.

It is said Wales' World Cup pool games against Italy and Tonga are going to be near-24,000 sell-outs at the Bruce Stadium.

But where are all the people going to come from? World Cup! What World Cup?

There's hardly a sign or poster anywhere in Canberra. And we've got another 20 days here! Roll on Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

* A notice where the players run onto the Canberra Raiders training pitch warns players to beware of the birds.

It's the feathered variety, and their appealing looking little red creatures which swoop down from nowhere.

There's even an imitation cat, much like a scarecrow, to frighten the birds and a list of advice to counter the threat reads:

* wear a hat and glasses

* walk your bicycle

* carry an open umbrella

* don't run walk away quickly

* try a different route next time

* Steve Hansen really is the coach who drives the team bus. After training today, he was at the wheel to take the players back to the Canberra suburbs.