1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage

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 main WDL Q n points 2 GBR GBR AUS AUS FRA FRA NZL NZL 3 0 0 93 44 2 0 1 61 41 1 0 2 33 53 0 0 3 33 82 #cfc Advances to the Final A A complete Matches France vs New Zealand Saturday 28 October FRA 20–9 NZL Tries: Jean-Marie Bonal (2) Andre Ruiz Goals: Bernard Guilhem (4) Jean-Marie Bonal (1) Field Goals: Marius Frattini (1) Tries: Phillip Orchard (2) Mocky Brereton Goals: Stade Vélodrome, Marseille 20,748 Georges Jameau FRA France vs New Zealand _francerl54 _francerlclassic _francerl54 _2whitestripes 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF FF0000 France _whiteborder _NZKiwis _whiteborder _collarwhite _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 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:NZL 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 Sunday 29 October GBR 27–21 AUS Tries: John Atkinson Phil Lowe Dennis O'Neill Mike Stephenson Clive Sullivan Goals: Terry Clawson (6/6) Tries: Bob Fulton (3) Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Graeme Langlands (4) Field Goals: Bob McCarthy (1) Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 6,324 Claude Teisseire FRA Great Britain vs Australia _GBRL _GBR1 _blue_stripes2 _red_stripes2 _band_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 0000CD Great Britain _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 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:ENG 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:AUS 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 Wednesday 1 November FRA 4–13 GBR Try: Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (1) Victor Serrano (1) Try: Phil Lowe (2) Clive Sullivan Goals: Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble 5,321 F. Gril FRA France vs Great Britain _francerl54 _francerlclassic _francerl54 _2whitestripes 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF FF0000 France _GBRL _GBR1 _blue_stripes2 _red_stripes2 _band_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 0000CD 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:ENG 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 Wednesday 1 November AUS 9–5 NZL Tries: Bob Fulton Dennis Ward Goals: Ray Branighan (1) Field Goals: Bob Fulton (1) Tries: John Whittaker Goals: John Wilson (1) Parc des Princes, Paris 8,000 Mick Naughton ENG Australia vs New Zealand _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 Australia _whiteborder _NZKiwis _whiteborder _collarwhite _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 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:AUS 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:NZL Des Barchard New Zealand gave Australia a hard time, the first half being scoreless, before going down 9–5. Great Britain vs New Zealand Saturday 4 November GBR 53–19 NZL Tries: John Atkinson (2) John Holmes (2) Paul Charlton Chris Hesketh David Jeanes Steve Nash George Nicholls Mike Stephenson Clive Sullivan Goals: John Holmes (10) Tries: Bill Burgoyne Tony Coll Murray Eade John Whittaker Dennis Williams Goals: John Wilson (2) Stade du Hameau, Pau 7,500 Georges Jameau FRA John Holmes Great Britain 16 Great Britain vs New Zealand _GBRL _GBR1 _blue_stripes2 _red_stripes2 _band_red FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 0000CD Great Britain _whiteborder _NZKiwis _whiteborder _collarwhite _hoops_white 000000 000000 000000 FFFFFF 000000 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:ENG 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:NZL 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 Sunday 5 November FRA 9–31 AUS Tries: Andre Ruiz Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (3) Tries: Mark Harris (2) Paul Sait (2) Bob Fulton John O'Neill Elwyn Walters Goals: Ray Branighan (5) Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 10,332 Mick Naughton ENG France vs Australia _francerl54 _francerlclassic _francerl54 _2whitestripes 0000CD 0000CD 0000CD FFFFFF FF0000 France _kangaroos _kangaroos1992 _kangaroos _hoops_gold 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 023E00 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:AUS 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. 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