1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

Last updated

The 1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France comprised the Australia national rugby league team's fourteenth tour of Great Britain and ninth tour of France and took place from September to December 1978. Coached by Frank Stanton and captained by Bob Fulton, the Australian team, also known as the Kangaroos, played a match against Wales before contesting the Ashes series against Great Britain, winning the third and deciding Test match. [1] The tourists then moved on to France where they were narrowly beaten in both Tests, the last series the Kangaroos would lose until 2005. [2] In addition to these six internationals, the Australians played sixteen other matches against local club and representative sides in both countries. The 1978 Kangaroo tour followed the tour of 1973 while the next tour would be staged in 1982.

Contents

Background

The 1978 Kangaroo tour was the first since 1973 and took place in the wake of Australia's rugby league season. Sydney's 1978 NSWRFL season, which contributed the vast majority of the tourists, ended later in the year than usual as it involved a grand final replay. For the English the tour was conducted during the first half of the 1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season.

Touring squad

The Australian team's coach was Frank Stanton, who had already taken the City, New South Wales and the Manly-Warringah teams to victory in all of their respective competitions that year. [3] Eastern Suburbs's captain (and former Manly premiership captain under Stanton in 1976), Bob Fulton, was selected to be the touring Australian side's skipper while Cronulla back rower Greg Pierce was named as vice-captain. [4] Manly-Warringah Grand Final winner John Harvey created some controversy when he declined selection for the tour due to personal reasons. [5] As a result, his Manly-Warringah teammate Bruce Walker was called in as a replacement. [6] Another Manly premiership winner Terry Randall also declined to tour citing exhaustion after Manly's arduous finals campaign in 1978 where the Sea Eagles played 6 matched in 24 days, including the drawn Grand Final against Cronulla-Sutherland, and the replay played just three days later. He later admitted regret in not touring. [7] One shock omission was Manly centre Russel Gartner, who had played two games for Australia in the 1977 World Cup including the Final in which he scored a spectacular 65 metre solo try. Gartner, a speedy outside back who could play either centre or wing, had scored two tries in the Grand Final replay, one a 70-metre effort where he easily outpaced the Cronulla defence despite having torn his hamstring a week earlier, was considered unlucky not to tour.

Of the 28 man squad, only three Queensland based players were chosen - Souths Innisfail winger Kerry Boustead, Brisbane Easts prop forward Rod Morris and Redcliffe halfback Greg Oliphant. The only other Queenslanders in the squad were St George back rower Rod Reddy and Manly forward Bruce Walker.

The tour manager was Canterbury-Bankstown Chief Executive Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, with Jim Caldwell as the co-manager. [8]

Craig Young was named 'player of the tour'. [9] Bob Fulton was the tourists' top try scorer with 9. [10] Michael Cronin was the tourists' top point scorer with 142.

PlayerClubPosition(s)TestsMatchesTriesGoalsF/GoalsPoints
Flag of New South Wales.svg Chris Anderson Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Wing 5
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Kerry Boustead Cougscolours.svg Innisfail Souths (Qld) Wing 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Les Boyd Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Second-row, Prop 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Larry Corowa Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Wing 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Michael Cronin Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Centre 5142
Flag of New South Wales.svg Graham Eadie Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Fullback 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Bob Fulton (c) Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Five-eighth, Centre 59
Flag of New South Wales.svg Geoff Gerard Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Prop, Second-row 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Johnny Gibbs Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ron Hilditch Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Hooker, Prop 1
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Kneen Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Second-row, Lock 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Max Krilich Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Hooker 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Martin Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Halfback 1
Flag of New South Wales.svg Allan McMahon Balmain colours.svg Balmain Tigers Fullback, Wing, Centre 0
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Rod Morris Balmain colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Tigers (Qld) Prop 2
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Greg Oliphant Redcliffe colours.svg Redcliffe Dolphins (Qld) Halfback 0
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Graham Olling Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Prop 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg George Peponis Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Hooker 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Greg Pierce (vc) Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Lock, Second-row 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ray Price Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Lock 5
Flag of New South Wales.svg Tommy Raudonikis Western Suburbs colours.svg Western Suburbs Magpies Halfback 5
Flag of Queensland (1901-1963).svg Rod Reddy St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Second-row, Lock 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Steve Rogers Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Centre 4
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ian Schubert Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Eastern Suburbs Roosters Fullback, Wing 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Alan Thompson Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Five-eighth 3
Flag of New South Wales.svg Ian Thomson Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop 2
Flag of New South Wales.svg Bruce Walker Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Prop, Second-row 0
Flag of New South Wales.svg Craig Young St. George colours.svg St George Dragons Prop 5

Great Britain leg

Test Venues

The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.

Wigan Bradford Leeds
Central Park Odsal Headingley
Capacity: 35,000Capacity: 40,000 Capacity: 30,000
Central park kop.jpg Odsal Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 60082.jpg South Stand, Headingley Stadium during the second day of the England-Sri Lanka test (21st April 2014) 001.JPG
Saturday, 30 September Blackpool Borough Blackpoolcolours.svg 1 – 39 Australian colours.svg Australia Borough Park, Blackpool
Tries:
Goals:
[11] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 2,700

Sunday 1 October Cumbria County Flag of Cumbria.svg 4 – 47 Australian colours.svg Australia Craven Park, Barrow
Tries:
Goals:
[12] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 5,964
Referee: Stan Wall

Wednesday 4 October Great Britain U/24 Great Britain colours.svg 8 – 30 Australian colours.svg Australia Craven Park, Hull
Tries:
Goals:
[13] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 6,418
Referee: Fred Lindop

Sunday 8 October Bradford Northern Bullscolours.svg 11 – 21 Australian colours.svg Australia Odsal, Bradford
Tries:
Goals:
[14] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 15,755

Wednesday 11 October Warrington Wolvescolours.svg 15 – 12 Australian colours.svg Australia Wilderspool, Warrington
Tries:
Goals:
[15] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 10,143

A controversial late Alan Gwilliam try gave Warrington a 15–12 win over Australia, with Steve Hesford kicking six goals. In the tourists' first lost match of the tour Warrington's packmen Tommy Martyn, Mike Nicholas, Tommy Cunningham and Roy Lester were in superb form, ably supported by replacement half backs Gwilliam and Clark. This was Warrington's eighth win over Australia since . [16]


Wales

The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at the St. Helen's Ground. As of 2017 this was the 13th and final rugby league international played at the ground.

Sunday, 15 October
Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg3 – 8Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:


Goals:
David Watkins (1)
Field Goals::
David Watkins
[17]
Tries:
Bob Fulton
Tommy Raudonikis
Goals:
Michael Cronin (1)
St Helen's Ground, Swansea
Attendance: 4,250
Referee: Ron Campbell
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Wales
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Australia
FB1 Redscolours.svg David Watkins (c)
RW2 HKRcolours.svg Clive Sullivan
RC3 Wigancolours.svg David Willicombe
LC4 Saintscolours.svg Eddie Cunningham
LW5 Wolvescolours.svg John Bevan
SO6 Saintscolours.svg Bill Francis
SH7 Widnes colours.svg Paul Woods
PR8 Widnes colours.svg Jim Mills
HK9 Bullscolours.svg Tony Fisher
PR10 Saintscolours.svg Mel James
SR11 Widnes colours.svg Glyn Shaw
SR12 Wcatscolours.svg Trevor Skerrett
LK13 Saintscolours.svg Roy Mathias
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Kel Coslett
St Helen's.DSC00503.JPG
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
LW2 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Ian Schubert
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LC4 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Rogers
RW5 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Parramatta colours.svg Graham Olling
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg George Peponis
PR10 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Ian Thomson
SR11 Cronulla colours.svg Greg Pierce
SR12 St. George colours.svg Rod Reddy
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
IC15 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Alan Thompson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

Kangaroos' vice captain Greg Pierce injured his knee in this match and made no more appearances on the tour. [18]


Tuesday 17 October Leeds Rhinoscolours.svg 19 – 25 Australian colours.svg Australia Headingley, Leeds
Tries:
Goals:
[19] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 9,781

1st Ashes Test

This year Great Britain had the opportunity to re-gain the Ashes title on home soil. The Ashes series was styled the "Forward Chemicals Test series" due to sponsorship reasons.

Saturday 21 October
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg9 – 15Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan

Goals::
George Fairbairn (3)
[20]
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Bob Fulton
Goals::
Mick Cronin (4)
Field Goals::
Bob Fulton
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 17,644
Referee: Ron Campbell Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Rod Reddy Australian colours.svg
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Great Britain
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Australia
FB1 Wigancolours.svg George Fairbairn
RW2 Widnes colours.svg Stuart Wright
RC3 Widnes colours.svg Eric Hughes
LC4 Saintscolours.svg Eddie Cunningham
LW5 Wolvescolours.svg John Bevan
SO6 HKRcolours.svg Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Redscolours.svg Steve Nash
PR8 Bullscolours.svg Jimmy Thompson
HK9 Rhinoscolours.svg David Ward
PR10 HKRcolours.svg Paul Rose
SR11 Saintscolours.svg George Nicholls
SR12 Bullscolours.svg Len Casey
LK13 Hullcolours.svg Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 Rhinoscolours.svg John Holmes
IC15 HKRcolours.svg Phil Hogan
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
RC3 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Rogers
LC4 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Chris Anderson
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Parramatta colours.svg Graham Olling
HK9 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Max Krilich
PR10 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
SR11 Parramatta colours.svg Geoff Gerard
SR12 St. George colours.svg Rod Reddy
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Kneen
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

Great Britain were trailing 6-7 with fifteen minutes remaining when an Australian pass went to ground and Welsh winger John Bevan kicked the ball ahead. It was then a foot race between him and Australian fullback Graham Eadie to reach the ball which was slowing within Australia's in-goal area. Both players stumbled and dived, with Bevan getting a hand on the ball and claiming the try which was awarded, giving the home side a 9-7 lead. The Kangaroos then worked their way up to the other end of the field and moved the ball through the hands out to the right wing where Kerry Boustead crossed for a try, regaining his side the lead 9-10. In the final minutes Australian captain Bob Fulton forced his way over for a try which was also converted, so the match ended with the scoreline at 9-15.


Wednesday 25 October Widnes Widnes colours.svg 11 – 10 Australian colours.svg Australia Naughton Park, Widnes
19:00
Tries:
Stuart Wright
Goals::
Mick Burke (4)
[21] Tries:
Ian Schubert, Bruce Walker
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)

Attendance: 12,202
Referee: Ron Moore

Widnes: David Eckersley, Stuart Wright, Malcolm Aspey, Mick George, Mick Burke, Eric Hughes, Reg Bowden, Brian Hogan, Keith Elwell, Jim Mills, Mick Adams, David Hull, Doug Laughton (c). Coach - Doug Laughton

Australia: Allan McMahon, Ian Schubert, Michael Cronin (c), Alan Thompson, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Greg Oliphant, Rod Morris, Ron Hilditch, Ian Thomson, Geoff Gerard, Steve Kneen, Ray Price. Res - Bob Fulton, Bruce Walker

Widnes, the reigning British champions, were leading 7–2 half time. Up to and including the last Kangaroo tour in which Australia played English club teams as part of their schedule in 1994, this was the last game the Kangaroos lost to an English club side. This was also the only time in what would be 15 tour games between 1909–1990 that Widnes would defeat The Kangaroos. Their previous best result was a 13–all draw on 21 October 1937 during the 1937–38 tour.


Sunday 29 October Hull F.C. Hullcolours.svg 2 – 34 Australian colours.svg Australia The Boulevard, Hull
Tries:
Goals:
[22] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 10,723

Wednesday 1 November Salford Redscolours.svg 2 – 14 Australian colours.svg Australia The Willows, Salford
Tries:
Goals:
[23] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 6,155

2nd Ashes Test

Several changes were made to the Great Britain team, including a completely new front row. This match was broadcast live. [24]

Sunday 5 November
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg18 – 14Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Stuart Wright (2)

Goals:
George Fairbairn (6)
[25]
Tries:
Ray Price
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Mick Cronin ( 2 ) Steve Rogers (2)
Odsal, Bradford
Attendance: 26,761
Referee: Mick Naughton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Brian Lockwood Great Britain colours.svg
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Great Britain
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Australia
FB1 Wigancolours.svg George Fairbairn
RW2 Widnes colours.svg Stuart Wright
RC3 Castleford colours.svg John Joyner
LC4 Rhinoscolours.svg Les Dyl
LW5 Rhinoscolours.svg John Atkinson
SO6 HKRcolours.svg Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Redscolours.svg Steve Nash
PR8 Widnes colours.svg Jim Mills
HK9 Bullscolours.svg Tony Fisher
PR10 HKRcolours.svg Brian Lockwood
SR11 Saintscolours.svg George Nicholls
SR12 HKRcolours.svg Phil Lowe
LK13 Hullcolours.svg Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 Rhinoscolours.svg John Holmes
IC15 HKRcolours.svg Paul Rose
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
RC3 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Rogers
LC4 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Chris Anderson
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Parramatta colours.svg Graham Olling
HK9 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Max Krilich
PR10 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
SR11 Parramatta colours.svg Geoff Gerard
SR12 St. George colours.svg Rod Reddy
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Alan Thompson
IC15 Western Suburbs colours.svg Les Boyd
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

In the final minutes of the first half the British had just made their way into Australia's half of the field when they made a break up the middle through Roger Millward. He then kicked the ball ahead as he was being tackled and his winger Stuart Wright was chasing through to get a hand on it and score. The try was converted so the home side led at the break 11 – 4.

In the second half Britain's right centre John Joyner made a break and popped a pass over to his winger Stuart Wright to cross once again. They won the match 18–14 to bring the series to 1-all.

This would be the last time Great Britain beat Australia in a Test match for another ten years. [26]


Wednesday 8 November Wigan Wigancolours.svg 2 – 28 Australian colours.svg Australia Central Park, Wigan
19:30
Tries:

Goals:
George Fairbairn (1)
[27] Tries:
Larry Corowa (2), Steve Rogers (2), Bruce Walker, Allan McMahon
Goals:
Michael Cronin (5)

Attendance: 10,645
Referee: Peter Massey

Wigan: George Fairbairn, Dennis Ramsdale, David Willicombe, Alan Greenall, Jimmy Hornby, Keiron O'Loughlin, Bernard Coyle, John Wood, Tony Karalius, Steve O'Neill, John Foran, Bill Melling, Dennis Boyd. Res - Malcolm Swann, David Regan. Coach - Vince Karalius

Australia: Allan McMahon, Larry Corowa, Steve Rogers, Michael Cronin, Ian Schubert, Alan Thompson, Steve Martin, Ian Thomson, Ron Hilditch, Rod Morris, Geoff Gerard, Les Boyd, Bruce Walker

At half time Wigan trailed Australia 2 – 5. [28]


In a Leeds bar, a member of Surrey rock band The Jam, Paul Weller, glassed the face of Jim Caldwell, the team manager from Queensland. [29] Australian player Larry Corowa ran to defend the bloodied Caldwell, was punched from behind himself and raced into a nearby bar to get teammates to provide reinforcements for the brawl that ensued. One member of The Jam landed in hospital with broken ribs and another was reported at the time to have been charged with assault. The official police statement cleared the Australians of any wrongdoing. [30]


Sunday 12 November St. Helens Saintscolours.svg 4 – 26 Australian colours.svg Australia Knowsley Road, St. Helens
Tries:
Goals:
[31] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 16,352

The game against St Helens saw the largest non-test attendance of the tour of 16,532.


Tuesday 14 November York YorkRLFCcolours.png 2 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia Clarence Street, York
Tries:
Goals:
[32] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 5,155

3rd Ashes Test

Warrington's John Bevan came into the centres for Leeds star Les Dyl, while Hull F.C. prop Vince Farrar made his Great Britain debut in place of second test Man of the Match, Hull Kingston Rovers' forward Brian Lockwood who was unavailable due to injury. The Kangaroos maintained the same backline from the 2nd Test, but brought George Peponis, Rod Morris and Les Boyd into their forward pack.

Saturday 18 November
15:00
Great Britain  Flag of the United Kingdom.svg6 – 23Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan
Roger Millward


Goals:
[33]
Tries:
Les Boyd
Geoff Gerard
George Peponis
Tom Raudonikis
Goals:
Mick Cronin (5/6)
Field Goals:
Bob Fulton (1)
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 30,604
Referee: Mick Naughton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
Player of the Match: Tom Raudonikis Australian colours.svg
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Great Britain
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Australia
FB1 Wigancolours.svg George Fairbairn
RW2 Widnes colours.svg Stuart Wright
RC3 Castleford colours.svg John Joyner
LC4 Wolvescolours.svg John Bevan
LW5 Rhinoscolours.svg John Atkinson
SO6 HKRcolours.svg Roger Millward (c)
SH7 Redscolours.svg Steve Nash
PR8 Widnes colours.svg Jim Mills
HK9 Bullscolours.svg Tony Fisher
PR10 Hullcolours.svg Vince Farrar
SR11 Saintscolours.svg George Nicholls
SR12 HKRcolours.svg Phil Lowe
LK13 Hullcolours.svg Steve Norton
Substitutions:
IC14 Rhinoscolours.svg John Holmes
IC15 HKRcolours.svg Paul Rose
Coach:
Flag of England.svg Peter Fox
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
RC3 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Rogers
LC4 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Chris Anderson
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg George Peponis
PR10 Balmain colours.svg Rod Morris
SR11 Parramatta colours.svg Geoff Gerard
SR12 Western Suburbs colours.svg Les Boyd
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Alan Thompson
IC15 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Ian Thomson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

The deciding test attracted the largest attendance of any match on the tour. After two penalty goals by Mick Cronin Australia led by 4 points to nil. The Kangaroos then got the first try of the match with a close-range dive from George Peponis at dummy-half. The conversion by Cronin was successful so Australia led 9 – 0. The visitors scored another try when the ball was passed from dummy-half to a steamrolling Les Boyd who raced through to score under the goal posts, bringing the lead to 12 – 0. Later, after making a break and crossing the half-way line Raudonikis passed to Geoff Gerard who ran the remaining metres to score untouched, making the score 17 – 0.

Australian fullback Graham Eadie crossed early in the second half but the try was controversially disallowed for a forward pass. Bob Fulton took the Australians' lead out to 20–0 with a drop-goal early in the second half. [34] Great Britain scored the first try of the second half when 31-year-old Roger Millward, captaining Great Britain for the last time, [35] reached out of a tackle and bounced the ball off the turf of the Australian in-goal area. The home side scored again when they moved the ball through the hands out to the left wing where Bevan dived over in the corner. The Kangaroos scored next when Raudonikis, directly from a scrum win, ran through and put the ball down.

Australia therefore retained the Ashes with the first of a fourteen-year winning streak between these two sides that would last until 1988. [36]

France leg

Wednesday 22 November Catalan XIII Catalanscolours.svg 15 – 26 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan
Tries:
Goals:
[37] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 2,270

1st Test

Steve Martin was selected to make his Test debut. [38]

Sunday 26 November
France  Flag of France.svg13 – 10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
José Moya (5)
[39]
Tries:
Michael Cronin
Graham Eadie
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Andre Breysse Flag of France.svg
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Australia
FB1 Francis Tranier
RW2 José Moya
RC3 Christian Laumond
LC4 Michel Naudo
LW5 Philippe Fourcade
SO6 Éric Waligunda
SH7 Ivan Grésèque
PR8 Henri Daniel
HK9 André Malacamp
PR10 Delphin Castanon
SR11 Didier Hermet
SR12 Charles Zalduendo
LK13 Michel Maïque (c)
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of France.svg Roger Garrigue
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
RC3 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LC4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Steve Martin
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Chris Anderson
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
HK9 Canterbury colours.svg George Peponis
PR10 Balmain colours.svg Rod Morris
SR11 Parramatta colours.svg Geoff Gerard
SR12 Western Suburbs colours.svg Les Boyd
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14
IC15
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

France won the first Test 13–10 at Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne.


Wednesday 29 NovemberCôte d'Azur7 – 29 Australian colours.svg Australia Parc des Sports, Avignon
Tries:
Goals:
[40] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 645

Sunday 3 DecemberLes Espoirs (Colts)20 – 5 Australian colours.svg Australia Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi
Tries:
Goals:
[41] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 1,600

Wednesday, 6 December Midi-Pyrénées XIII Flag of Midi-Pyrenees.svg 7 – 36 Australian colours.svg Australia
Tries:
Goals:
[42] Tries:
Goals:

Attendance: 1,627

2nd Test

Sunday 10 December
France  Flag of France.svg11 – 10Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
José Moya (3)
Field Goals:
Jean-Marc Bourret (1)
Éric Waligunda (1)
[43]
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stadium Municipal, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,500
Referee: P Laverny Flag of France.svg
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Australia
FB1 Francis Tranier
RW2 José Moya
RC3 Christian Laumond
LC4 Michel Naudo
LW5 Gerard Borreil
SO6 Éric Waligunda
SH7 Jean-Louis Castel
PR8 Henri Daniel
HK9 André Malacamp
PR10 Delphin Castanon
SR11 Didier Hermet
SR12 Charles Zalduendo
LK13 Michel Maïque (c)
Substitutions:
IC14 Jean-Marc Bourret
IC15 Joël Roosebrouck
Coach:
Flag of France.svg Roger Garrigue
FB1 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Graham Eadie
RW2 Cougscolours.svg Kerry Boustead
RC3 Cronulla colours.svg Steve Rogers
LC4 Parramatta colours.svg Michael Cronin
LW5 Canterbury colours.svg Chris Anderson
FE6 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Bob Fulton (c)
HB7 Western Suburbs colours.svg Tommy Raudonikis
PR8 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Ian Thomson
HK9 Parramatta colours.svg Ron Hilditch
PR10 St. George colours.svg Craig Young
SR11 Parramatta colours.svg Geoff Gerard
SR12 St. George colours.svg Rod Reddy
LF13 Parramatta colours.svg Ray Price
Substitutions:
IC14 Parramatta colours.svg Graham Olling
IC15 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Alan Thompson
Coach:
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Frank Stanton

The referee was Mr Laverny from Bordeaux. France were coached by Roger Garrigue. Their line-up included world class players, lock, Joël Roosebrouck [44] and prop, Didier Hermet from Villeneuve-Sur-Lot, and Jean-Marc Bourret in the centres. Ron Hilditch played at hooker in place of Max Krilich who was injured. [45] France claimed a 2–0 series win over the touring Kangaroos with an 11–10 result at the Stade Municipal, Toulouse in front of 6,500 spectators.

France thus became the last team to record successive victories against Australia in a single series. [46] This would be the last time the Kangaroos failed to win a series or tournament until the 2005 Tri-Nations. [47]

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Attendance

Largest Club Game Attendance

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