1972 Rugby League World Cup final

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1972 (1972) Rugby League World Cup final  ()
Great Britain
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg 		Australia
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
(RFL)(ARL)
1010
12Total
GBR Great Britain colours.svg 5510
AUS Australian colours.svg 5510
Date11 November 1972
Stadium Stade de Gerland
Location Lyon, France
Referee Georges Jameau (France)
Attendance4,231
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
←  1970
1977  →

The 1972 Rugby League World Cup final was the conclusive game of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Great Britain and Australia on 11 November 1972 at the Stade de Gerland ground in Lyon, France. The final was played before 4,231 fans who witnessed what is (as of 2020) the last British team to win the Rugby League World Cup. [1]

Contents

Background

The 1972 Rugby League World Cup was the sixth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 1970 tournament. The tournament was held in the France from 28 October, culminating in the final between Great Britain and Australia on 11 November.

Great Britain

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueAttendanceStage
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 272129 October Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 6,300 Group Stage
Flag of France.svg  France 1341 November Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble 13,231 Group Stage
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 53194 November Stade du Hameau, Pau 7,500 Group Stage

Great Britain were undefeated going into the final.

Australia

Scores and results list Great Britain's points tally first.
Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueAttendanceStage
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain 212729 October Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 6,300 Group Stage
Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 951 November Parc des Princes, Paris 8,000 Group Stage
Flag of France.svg  France 5195 November Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 10,332 Group Stage

Match details

11 November 1972
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg10–10
(ET)		Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Clive Sullivan
Mike Stephenson
Goals:
Terry Clawson (2)		 [2]
Tries:
John O'Neill
Arthur Beetson
Goals:
Ray Branighan (2)
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 4,231
Referee: Georges Jameau (France)
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Kit body GBR1.png
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Great Britain
Kit left arm kangaroos.png
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body kangaroos1992.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm kangaroos.png
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Australia
FB1 Redscolours.svg Paul Charlton
RW2 Hullcolours.svg Clive Sullivan (c)
RC3 Redscolours.svg Chris Hesketh
LC4 Saintscolours.svg John Walsh
LW5 Rhinoscolours.svg John Atkinson
SO6 Rhinoscolours.svg John Holmes
SH7 Fevcolours.svg Steve Nash
PR8 Rhinoscolours.svg Terry Clawson
HK9 Ramscolours.svg Mike Stephenson
PR10 Rhinoscolours.svg David Jeanes
SR11 HKRcolours.svg Phil Lowe
SR12 Castleford colours.svg Brian Lockwood
LF13 Widnes colours.svg George Nicholls
Substitutions:
IC14 Oldhamcolours.svg Bob Irving
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Jim Challinor
FB1 St. George colours.svg Graeme Langlands (c)
RW2 Western Suburbs colours.svg John Grant
RC3 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Mark Harris
LC4 Balmain colours.svg Geoff Starling
LW5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Ray Branighan
FE6 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Bob Fulton
HB7 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Dennis Ward
PR8 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg John O'Neill
HK9 South Sydney colours.svg Elwyn Walters
PR10 Parramatta colours.svg Bob O'Reilly
SR11 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Arthur Beetson
SR12 South Sydney colours.svg Gary Stevens
LK13 Newtown colours.svg Gary Sullivan
Substitutions:
IC14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Fred Jones
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Harry Bath

The game received a poor attendance of only 4,231 spectators with the French public seemingly uninterested in a final that did not involve French, as evident by the fact only games involving France drew crowds of over 10,000. In fact, the final drew the lowest attendance of the tournament. [3]

The game, however, proved a memorable one for both Great Britain and Australia; seeing Great Britain captain Clive Sullivan's long distance try, [4] [5] and Australia's "greatest try never scored", by fullback Graeme Langlands. [6] The try was disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau for offside but was later proved to be onside. [7] Great Britain hooker Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped level the scores and secure the World Cup. [8]

Australia winger Ray Branighan missed his 79th-minute penalty, Bob Fulton failed three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, resulting in a 10–10 scoreline at full time. Scores were again level after extra time. [9]

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References

  1. ↑ "When Great Britain won the World Cup". BBC. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. ↑ Report
  3. ↑ 1972 RLWC at Rugby League Project
  4. ↑ Wright, J (23 August 2007). "Rugby League's Greatest Ever Full-back". Times & Star. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
  5. ↑ Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived October 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail
  6. ↑ Kdouh, Fatima (28 November 2013). "We take a look back at the greatest Rugby League World Cup finals of all time". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 23 December 2013.
  7. ↑ Chesterton, Ray (24 October 2008). "Langlands denied greatest try ever". The Daily Telegraph . Australia: News Limited . Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  8. ↑ Hughes, Ed (31 October 2004). "Caught in Time: Great Britain prepare for 1972 rugby league World Cup final". The Sunday Times . UK: Times Newspapers Ltd. Retrieved 18 October 2010.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ 1972 World Cup final highlights
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