It became apparent on Saturday why Australia were so concerned about playing Wales in Cardiff rather than France. It had nothing to do with rugby, as events were later to prove, and everything to do with coaches.

Horribly and dangerously overcrowded coaches. Paddington station on Saturday morning was little Australia as thousands of passengers clad in green and gold jerseys arrived clutching train tickets which contained the details of their reserved seats.

Those catching the 9.45 to Cardiff were due to arrive in the Welsh capital more than two hours before the start of the match. They had left themselves plenty of time, or at least they would have in Australia or France, but they reckoned without First Great Western Railway.

There were only 10 minutes before departure when an announcement was made that those traveling to Cardiff should gather in the waiting area by platform eight. If it sounded organized, the "area" was an open space cluttered with parked bicycles, to the side of which stood a packed train full of replica Australia rugby jerseys and a sprinkling of Welsh red.

It turned out to be the 9.45 whose platform designation had yet to be given. When the hordes invited to the "waiting area" realized that the train was theirs, they piled on to the point where not only was each carriage filled with standing bodies with no space to move around but the corridors were as well. Imagine a crowded tube train at rush hour and squeeze a few more in through each door. More than two hours to Cardiff. Enjoy your trip.

Dozens were left unable to get on. Late arrivals tried to push through, confident they would get on because they had reserved seats. "We all have," said one Australian. "There is not only someone sitting on my seat but someone is sitting on him."

Railway officials advised everyone unable to get on to board the train on the next platform, which was going to Bristol Temple Meads. That quickly filled up to the point where no one else could get on, even though two-coach trains for Cardiff awaited at the other end. Wales supporters decided to wait for the 10.45 to Cardiff.

The 9.45 was late departing. A middle-aged couple who had reserved seats for Bristol Parkway and who had no interest in rugby were demanding to be let into the guards' van claiming First Great Western had a contract with them to honor. The British Transport Police were called to inform the pair that they faced arrest unless they allowed the train to leave without them on it.

One policeman was asked why he and his colleagues did not insist that the chronic overcrowding on the train was relieved before it was allowed to depart. He shrugged his shoulders, agreeing with the point that should there be an accident, there would be a potentially high number of casualties and a huge outcry would precede a public inquiry. There was, someone said, no passenger limit on trains and therefore nothing the police could do.

Those unable to get on the 9.45 who did not want to be dumped in Bristol were told by one official, in hushed tones, that the 10.45 was standing on platform 10. On everyone rushed and it was full long before those who had reserved seats for it turned up to claim them. The same thing had happened to the 9.45 and doubtless trains before that. Your ticket guaranteed only that you had a chance of getting on the next train.

"I don't know how you Poms put up with all this," said Gary from Brisbane. "If I had not spent a fortune on getting here and a match ticket, I would not have bothered. These are conditions not fit for animals to travel in."

Gary and his mates were insistent that Australia would be too strong for Wales and their confidence was not misplaced. The contest was over at half-time, even though Wales rallied after the break having started out with the intent of not losing. That was hardly surprising, though, considering the pressure their coach, Gareth Jenkins, has come under in recent months.

Australian supporters heading back to London left in good heart only to find when they reached Cardiff Central Station that a fatality on the line at Bridgend had caused a delay in services. Another crush awaited, and not from the buffet bar. At least those going back to France had a TGV to look forward to.
 
from : Guardian Unlimited