WELSH rugby chiefs came flooding to Australia prior to the England game.

The other night it was Swansea benefactors Robert Davies and Mike James, complaining about the regional system.

Then it was Ray Gravell, who I couldn't resist taunting again with 'East is Best'.

Cardiff's Peter Thomas was hurrying with a friend through the exotic Botanical Gardens on Sunday morning, and then I walked straight into Newport chairman David Watkins.

We were, of course, as one on the situation back home, and the shambles of three regions and two clubs. WRU bigwigs David Moffett and David Pickering, who are here, appear oblivious to it all.

Last night it was Matt Williams in the hotel bar who, with the Scottish team, had arrived back from the Australia quarter-final uncommonly quickly.

Matt now takes over as Scotland coach, and was the coach of Leinster during their three epic battles against Newport the season before last.

He recalled them all, especially the one where the lights went out at Rodney Parade and they snatched the victory.

He told me Leinster could not believe the demise of Newport last season, and also revealed how fellow Australian Alan Gaffney, now in charge of Munster, almost took the Newport coaching job last year.

The hotel bar was mighty congested because, apart from the returning Scots - they had already flown out by breakfast on Sunday - there was an Australian wedding party, plus the delectable Gabby Logan (ne Yorath).

The youngest of our media quartet immediately shot upstairs to get his camera and had his picture taken with Gabby. Dear, dear.

And a lovely day was had by all on Saturday when 'Biffo', Elaine and myself, plus others, took the cruise up the Brisbane River on the Miramar boat, to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary.

Pictures taken cuddling koalas and feeding kangaroos were delightful highlights - my dog, Ellie, will be jealous when she sees the photos after our reunion.

* The running bug has really caught on, with more and more caught in the act by the day, now that the English media are in the same city.

One prominent member was spotted dashing through the streets, while another national daily man who couldn't stop for fear of seizing up, choked out that he was on the tenth and last laparound the botanical gardens.

Made me feel quite ill.