The 1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage was the main component of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup, with the top two nations qualifying for the World Cup final. The group consisted of hosts France as well as Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Ladder
Matches
France vs New Zealand
FB 1 Roger ToujasRW 2 Serge MarsolanCE 3 Michel MolinerCE 4 Andre RuizLW 5 Jean-Marie BonalSO 6 Bernard GuilhemSH 7 Marius FrattiniPR 8 Francis de Nadai (c)HK 9 Jacques FrancPR 10 Jacques GarzinoSR 11 Victor SerranoSR 12 Serge GleyzesLF 13 Michel AngladeSubstitutions:IC 14 Charles ZalduendoIC 15Coach: FB 1 John WhittakerRW 2 Phillip OrchardCE 3 John O'SullivanCE 4 Roy Christian (c)LW 5 Mocky BreretonFE 6 Dennis WilliamsHB 7 Brian TraceyPR 8 Mita MohiHK 9 Bill BurgoynePR 10 Bob PaulSR 11 Doug GaileySR 12 Peter GurnickLK 13 Murray EadeSubstitutions:IC 14 Graeme CooksleyIC 15 Tony CollCoach: Des Barchard
France kicked off the tournament by sharing six tries with the Kiwis but a massive penalty count in their favour allowed the French to dictate play, their five goals and a drop goal to none by the Kiwis proving decisive.
Great Britain vs Australia
FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)CE 3 Chris HeskethCE 4 John WalshLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 Dennis O'NeillSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Mike StephensonPR 10 David JeanesSR 11 Brian LockwoodSR 12 Phil LoweLF 13 George NichollsSubstitutions:IC 14 John HolmesIC 15Coach: Jim Challinor FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)RW 2 Stephen KnightCE 3 Geoff StarlingCE 4 Ray BranighanLW 5 Mark HarrisFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Tommy RaudonikisPR 8 John O'NeillHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Arthur BeetsonSR 11 Bob McCarthySR 12 John ElfordLK 13 Gary SullivanSubstitutions:IC 14 Dennis WardIC 15 Paul SaitCoach: Harry Bath
At Perpignan a monumental struggle finally went Britain's way 27–21 against the Kangaroos, for whom Bob Fulton grabbed three tries in a lost cause. An unusual incident occurred during the second half of the match. Following John Atkinson's try, Australian second rower John Elford came through with a swinging arm that only just missed its mark. The players didn't react to the incident with the British players only celebrating the try and not worrying about Elford's action. Then following Terry Clausen's successful conversion, French referee Claude Teisseire, instead of allowing the Australian's to re-start with a kick-off, instead gave Great Britain a penalty on halfway citing Elford's swinging arm. To rub salt into the Australian's wound, British captain Clive Sullivan opted for the kick at goal from halfway, which Clausen duly landed.1972 Rugby League World Cup - Great Britain vs Australia group match highlights
France vs Great Britain
FB 1 Roger ToujasRW 2 Serge MarsolanCE 3 Michel MolinerCE 4 Andre RuizLW 5 Jean-Marie BonalSO 6 Bernard GuilhemSH 7 Jean-Marie ImbertPR 8 Francis de Nadai (c)HK 9 Jacques FrancPR 10 Jean-Paul SauretSR 11 Victor SerranoSR 12 Serge GleyzesLF 13 Guy RodriguezSubstitutions:IC 14 Charles ZalduendoIC 15Coach: FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)CE 3 Chris HeskethCE 4 John WalshLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 Dennis O'NeillSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 Terry ClawsonHK 9 Mike StephensonPR 10 Brian LockwoodSR 11 Colin DixonSR 12 Phil LoweLF 13 George NichollsSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: Jim Challinor
Great Britain overcame France 13–4 to qualify for the final with outstanding second-rower Phil Lowe scoring two tries.
Australia vs New Zealand
FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)RW 2 John GrantCE 3 Ray BranighanCE 4 Geoff StarlingLW 5 Stephen KnightFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Dennis WardPR 8 John O'NeillHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Bob O'ReillySR 11 Gary SullivanSR 12 John ElfordLK 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14 Gary StevensIC 15Coach: Harry Bath FB 1 John WilsonRW 2 Phillip OrchardCE 3 Mocky BreretonCE 4 Roy Christian (c)LW 5 John WhittakerFE 6 Dennis WilliamsHB 7 Brian TraceyPR 8 Don MannHK 9 Bill BurgoynePR 10 Doug GaileySR 11 Murray EadeSR 12 Bob PaulLK 13 Peter GurnickSubstitutions:IC 14 Rodney WalkerIC 15Coach: Des Barchard
New Zealand gave Australia a hard time, the first half being scoreless, before going down 9–5.
Great Britain vs New Zealand
FB 1 Paul CharltonRW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)CE 3 Chris HeskethCE 4 John WalshLW 5 John AtkinsonSO 6 John HolmesSH 7 Steve NashPR 8 David JeanesHK 9 Mike StephensonPR 10 Brian LockwoodSR 11 Bob IrvingSR 12 Phil LoweLF 13 George NichollsSubstitutions:IC 14 David RedfearnIC 15 Tony KaraliusCoach: Jim Challinor FB 1 John WilsonRW 2 Phillip OrchardCE 3 Mocky BreretonCE 4 Roy Christian (c)LW 5 John WhittakerFE 6 Dennis WilliamsHB 7 Brian TraceyPR 8 Don MannHK 9 Bill BurgoynePR 10 Doug GaileySR 11 Murray EadeSR 12 Tony CollLK 13 Peter GurnickSubstitutions:IC 14 Warren CollicoatIC 15 Rodney WalkerCoach: Des Barchard
Great Britain hammered New Zealand 53–19, a World Cup record score, with young stand-off John Holmes collecting 26 points (10 goals, 2 tries) – another World Cup record.
France vs Australia
FB 1 Roger ToujasRW 2 Serge MarsolanCE 3 Michel MolinerCE 4 Andre RuizLW 5 Jean-Marie BonalSO 6 Michael MazareSH 7 Marius FrattiniPR 8 Charles ZalduendoHK 9 Jacques FrancPR 10 Jacques GarzinoSR 11 Victor SerranoSR 12 Francis de Nadai (c)LF 13 Serge GleyzesSubstitutions:IC 14 Bernard GuilhemIC 15 Michel AngladeCoach: FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)RW 2 Ray BranighanCE 3 Mark HarrisCE 4 Geoff StarlingLW 5 John GrantFE 6 Bob FultonHB 7 Dennis WardPR 8 John O'NeillHK 9 Elwyn WaltersPR 10 Bob O'ReillySR 11 Gary StevensSR 12 Arthur BeetsonLK 13 Paul SaitSubstitutions:IC 14IC 15Coach: Harry Bath
Australia had to beat France at Toulouse to reach the final in the last game of the preliminaries, a task which proved well within their capabilities.
References