THE Australian rugby management and squad were on the brink of walking out of last night's post-match function at the Millennium Stadium after being snubbed by Wales.

"They were made to wait for 50 minutes, it was the height of ignorance," fumed one angry and embarrassed Welsh official, though a WRU spokesman claimed it was all a misunderstanding.

Wales went down to a 21-13 defeat against the world champions in a stormy match which saw three players yellow carded and Wales score the only try in injury time.

The hostilities didn't end there as the Australians were unhappy at being kept waiting so long, something which also upset WRU president Sir Tasker Watkins.

"The Australians had had their talk, had showered and changed and put their gear on the bus, so they were no different to Wales," said the Welsh source.

"The Australian manager Phil Thomson said if Wales did not arrive by 6.30pm he would walk out with his players because they were all fed up with waiting.

"Someone was sent down to where Wales were to pass on the message, but still they did not arrive. "Then they just walked in without saying anything. It was all wrong."

A WRU spokesman replied: There may have been some misunderstanding. "The squad and management had been together for three weeks and wanted a quick get-together and a review before going their separate ways. "They didn't realise the Australians were going at 6.30pm and no time had been set down for the function to start.

"No offence was intended and there was no animosity between the players." Meanwhile, the Wales management could fall out again, this time with the clubs over a four-day training camp arranged for January.

It is intended as a forerunner to the Six Nations Championship in February. But it starts on January 13, which is between the end of the Heineken Cup pool matches and the quarter-finals a fortnight later.

That is sure to anger the clubs who have already lost their top players for the November internationals and will do so again for the Six Nations.

But Wales team manager Alan Phillips said, "The clubs have been notified and I don't see any problems."

Coach Graham Henry explained, "It is going to be important to keep communicating with this group and the injured players.

"One of the challenges is we only have a short period together and we've got to overcome that."

Australian captain George Gregan, who has succeeded John Eales, called Wales "the most negative team I've seen for years.

"It was a typical Welsh performance. All they wanted to do was give penalties away just to try to hang in there," he added.

But Wales captain Scott Quinnell insisted "With all the young players coming through there is a lot of hope for the future."