The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972. Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously. New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their home soil. In the event Great Britain confounded most expectations by running out worthy winners[citation needed] and levelling their tally of World Cup wins at 3–3 with the Australians.
The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon. Great Britain played Australia and in the end, with scores level and unchanged after extra time, claimed the cup on league placing.
This was the last World Cup to be played under the four-tackle rule.
The French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team, as just over 4,200 spectators turned up. The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan's wonderful long distance try[2][3] and by the Australians for perhaps "the greatest try never scored",[4] later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau.[5] Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd-minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup.[6] 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.
^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.
^Chesterton, Ray (24 October 2008). "Langlands denied greatest try ever". The Daily Telegraph. Australia: News Limited. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
^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.
External linksedit
1972 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject.com
When Great Britain won the World Cup at bbc.co.uk
1972 World Cup final at timesonline.co.uk
1972 World Cup data at hunterlink.net.au
April 09, 2024
1972, rugby, league, world, 1972, world, redirects, here, golf, tournament, 1972, world, golf, sixth, rugby, league, world, held, france, october, november, 1972, australia, started, favourites, retain, trophy, they, just, years, previously, zealand, beaten, t. 1972 World Cup redirects here For the golf tournament see 1972 World Cup men s golf The sixth Rugby League World Cup was held in France in October and November 1972 Australia started as the favourites to retain the trophy they had won just two years previously New Zealand had beaten all three of the other nations in 1971 and France were expected to be tough opponents on their home soil In the event Great Britain confounded most expectations by running out worthy winners citation needed and levelling their tally of World Cup wins at 3 3 with the Australians 1972 1972 World Cup Number of teams4Host country FranceWinner Great Britain 3rd title Matches played7Attendance62 456 8 922 per match Points scored240 34 29 per match Top scorerJohn Holmes 26 Top try scorerBob Fulton 5 Tournaments lt 19701975 gt The final was held at Stade Gerland in Lyon Great Britain played Australia and in the end with scores level and unchanged after extra time claimed the cup on league placing This was the last World Cup to be played under the four tackle rule Contents 1 Squads 2 Venues 2 1 Final Venue 3 Results 3 1 Group stage 3 2 Final 4 Try scorers 5 References 6 External linksSquads editMain article 1972 Rugby League World Cup squadsVenues editMarseille Paris ToulouseStade Velodrome Parc des Princes Stadium MunicipalCapacity 55 000 Capacity 48 712 Capacity 37 000 nbsp nbsp nbsp Perpignan Pau GrenobleStade Gilbert Brutus Stade du Hameau Stade LesdiguieresCapacity 13 000 Capacity 12 000 Capacity 12 000 nbsp nbsp Stade du Hameau Pau nbsp Final Venue edit LyonStade de GerlandCapacity 45 000 nbsp Results editGroup stage edit Main article 1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification nbsp Great Britain 3 3 0 0 93 44 49 6 Advances to the Final nbsp Australia 3 2 0 1 61 41 20 4 nbsp France 3 1 0 2 33 53 20 2 nbsp New Zealand 3 0 0 3 33 82 49 0Source citation needed 28 October 1972 France nbsp 20 9 nbsp New Zealand Stade Velodrome Marseille29 October 1972 Great Britain nbsp 27 21 nbsp Australia Stade Gilbert Brutus Perpingnan1 November 1972 France nbsp 4 13 nbsp Great Britain Stade Lesdiguieres Grenoble1 November 1972 Australia nbsp 9 5 nbsp New Zealand Parc des Princes Paris4 November 1972 Great Britain nbsp 53 19 nbsp New Zealand Stade du Hameau Pau5 November 1972 France nbsp 9 31 nbsp Australia Stadium Municipal ToulouseFinal edit Main article 1972 Rugby League World Cup final 11 November 1972Great Britain nbsp 10 10 AET nbsp AustraliaTries Clive Sullivan Mike Stephenson Goals Terry Clawson 2 1 Tries John O Neill Arthur Beetson Goals Ray Branighan 2 Stade de Gerland LyonAttendance 4 231Referee Georges Jameau nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Great Britain nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp AustraliaFB 1 nbsp Paul CharltonRW 2 nbsp Clive Sullivan c RC 3 nbsp Chris HeskethLC 4 nbsp John WalshLW 5 nbsp John AtkinsonSO 6 nbsp John HolmesSH 7 nbsp Steve NashPR 8 nbsp Terry ClawsonHK 9 nbsp Mike StephensonPR 10 nbsp David JeanesSR 11 nbsp Phil LoweSR 12 nbsp Brian LockwoodLF 13 nbsp George NichollsSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Bob IrvingIC 15Coach nbsp Jim Challinor FB 1 nbsp Graeme Langlands c RW 2 nbsp John GrantRC 3 nbsp Mark HarrisLC 4 nbsp Geoff StarlingLW 5 nbsp Ray BranighanFE 6 nbsp Bob FultonHB 7 nbsp Dennis WardPR 8 nbsp John O NeillHK 9 nbsp Elwyn WaltersPR 10 nbsp Bob O ReillySR 11 nbsp Arthur BeetsonSR 12 nbsp Gary StevensLK 13 nbsp Gary SullivanSubstitutions IC 14 nbsp Fred JonesIC 15Coach nbsp Harry BathThe French public seemed uninterested in a final that did not involve the home team as just over 4 200 spectators turned up The game will always be remembered by the British for their captain Clive Sullivan s wonderful long distance try 2 3 and by the Australians for perhaps the greatest try never scored 4 later shown on TV to be legitimately scored by Australian fullback Graeme Langlands but disallowed by French referee Georges Jameau 5 Mike Stephenson scored the 73rd minute try that helped Great Britain level the scores and secure the World Cup 6 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 Try scorers edit5 nbsp Bob Fulton 4 nbsp Clive Sullivan 3 nbsp John Atkinson nbsp Phil Lowe nbsp Mike Stephenson 2 nbsp Mark Harris nbsp John O Neill nbsp Paul Sait nbsp Jean Marie Bonal nbsp Andre Ruiz nbsp John Holmes nbsp Phillip Orchard nbsp John Whittaker 1 nbsp Arthur Beetson nbsp Tommy Raudonikis nbsp Elwyn Walters nbsp Dennis Ward nbsp Paul Charlton nbsp Chris Hesketh nbsp David Jeanes nbsp Steve Nash nbsp George Nicholls nbsp Dennis O Neill nbsp Mocky Brereton nbsp Bill Burgoyne nbsp Tony Coll nbsp Murray Eade nbsp Dennis WilliamsReferences edit Report Wright J 23 August 2007 Rugby League s Greatest Ever Full back Times amp Star Archived from the original on 24 December 2013 Retrieved 24 June 2012 Paddy McAteer 22 December 2010 Whole World in their Hands Archived 5 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine North West Evening Mail 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 Chesterton Ray 24 October 2008 Langlands denied greatest try ever The Daily Telegraph Australia News Limited Retrieved 6 February 2011 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 External links edit1972 World Cup at rlhalloffame org uk 1972 World Cup at rugbyleagueproject com 1972 World Cup final at eraofthebiff com When Great Britain won the World Cup at bbc co uk 1972 World Cup final at timesonline co uk 1972 World Cup data at hunterlink net au 1972 World Cup at 188 rugby league co uk Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1972 Rugby League World Cup amp oldid 1152307505, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
