1972 Rugby League World Cup Final

1972 (1972) Rugby League World Cup Final  ()
1 2 Total
GBR 5 5 10
AUS 5 5 10
Date 11 November 1972
Stadium Stade de Gerland
Location Lyon, France
Referee Georges Jameau France
Attendance 4,231
Broadcast partner
Broadcaster BBC
Commentator Eddie Waring
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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.

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.

Stade de Gerland, the venue of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup final

Great Britain

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.
Opposing Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage
 Australia 27 21 29 October Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 6,300 Group Stage
 France 13 4 1 November Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble 13,231 Group Stage
 New Zealand 53 19 4 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 Team For Against Date Venue Attendance Stage
 Great Britain 21 27 29 October Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan 6,300 Group Stage
 New Zealand 9 5 1 November Parc des Princes, Paris 8,000 Group Stage
 France 5 19 5 November Stadium Municipal, Toulouse 10,332 Group Stage

Match details

11 November 1972
Great Britain  10 – 10
(ET)
 Australia
Tries:
Clive Sullivan
Mike Stephenson
Goals:
Terry Clawson (2)
[1] Tries:
John O'Neill
Arthur Beetson
Goals:
Ray Branighan (2)
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 4,231
Referee/s: Georges Jameau France
Great Britain Position Australia
Paul CharltonFBGraeme Langlands (c)
Clive Sullivan (c)WGJohn Grant
Chris HeskethCEMark Harris
John WalshCEGeoff Starling
John AtkinsonWGRay Branighan
John HolmesFEBob Fulton
Steve NashHBDennis Ward
Terry Clawson PR John O'Neill
Mike StephensonHKElwyn Walters
David Jeanes PR Bob O'Reilly
Phil Lowe SR Arthur Beetson
Brian Lockwood SR Gary Stevens
George Nicholls LF Gary Sullivan
Bob Irving Reserve Fred Jones
Jim Challinor Coach Harry Bath

The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as less than 4,500 spectators turned up. Indeed, out of the seven games in the World Cup tournament, including the final, the only games that drew over 10,000 fans were two of the three games in which the French team played. The Final actually drew the lowest attendance of the tournament.[2]

The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try[3][4] and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored",[5] later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau.[6] Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup.[7]

Had Aussie winger Ray Branighan succeeded with a 79th-minute penalty or Bob Fulton landed one of three drop goal attempts in the last five minutes, the cup could easily have gone to Australia. But for the first time in the competition's history the scores were level at full-time. An additional twenty minutes extra time was played, but no further score resulted, and Great Britain were awarded the cup by virtue of a better position in the table.[8]

References

  1. Report
  2. 1972 RLWC at Rugby League Project
  3. 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.
  4. Paddy McAteer (22 December 2010) "Whole World in their Hands" Archived October 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. North West Evening Mail
  5. 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.
  6. Chesterton, Ray (24 October 2008). "Langlands denied greatest try ever". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
  7. 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.
  8. 1972 World Cup Final highlights
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