The weather was just perfect for yesterday’s outing, allowing everyone to have a great time. After leaving the hotel around lunchtime the first stop was at the Koala Park, where there was time to relax for a while before enjoying the barbecue lunch.

There was plenty of time after lunch to explore the park and, as well as seeing the many different species of Australian animals, including getting up close enough to cuddle koalas, wallabies and even wombats, there was an exhibition of sheep-shearing. Anyone who had never seen an expert sheep-shearer at work would have been amazed at the speed and skill displayed.

The evening featured a dinner cruise with an excellent menu of well-prepared local food. The cruise took us along the Paramatta River and around the gulf, passing the famous Sydney Opera House and other local landmarks. All in all, one of the best rest days of recent youth championships.

Those who did not go on the dinner cruise would have been impressed with the organisation and atmosphere surrounding the rugby union international in the Telstra Stadium, just next to the hotel. Unlike soccer crowds in many parts of the word, the Australian and New Zealand fans mixed together happily with no hint of trouble and a good time was had by all – even if the result (a 30-13 win for New Zealand) would not have pleased the majority of the crowd.