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1972 Rugby League World Cup final

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1972 (1972) Rugby League World Cup final  ()
Great Britain
United Kingdom		 Australia
Australia
(RFL) (ARL)
10 10
12 Total
GBR 55 10
AUS 55 10
Date11 November 1972
StadiumStade de Gerland
LocationLyon, France
RefereeGeorges Jameau (France)
Attendance4,231
Broadcast partners
Broadcasters
Commentators
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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. 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]

Background

[edit]
Main article: 1972 Rugby League World Cup

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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
11 November 1972
Great Britain  10–10
(ET) 		 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
Great Britain
Australia
FB 1 Paul Charlton
RW 2 Clive Sullivan (c)
RC 3 Chris Hesketh
LC 4 John Walsh
LW 5 John Atkinson
SO 6 John Holmes
SH 7 Steve Nash
PR 8 Terry Clawson
HK 9 Mike Stephenson
PR 10 David Jeanes
SR 11 Phil Lowe
SR 12 Brian Lockwood
LF 13 George Nicholls
Substitutions:
IC 14 Bob Irving
Coach:
England Jim Challinor
FB 1 Graeme Langlands (c)
RW 2 John Grant
RC 3 Mark Harris
LC 4 Geoff Starling
LW 5 Ray Branighan
FE 6 Bob Fulton
HB 7 Dennis Ward
PR 8 John O'Neill
HK 9 Elwyn Walters
PR 10 Bob O'Reilly
SR 11 Arthur Beetson
SR 12 Gary Stevens
LK 13 Gary Sullivan
Substitutions:
IC 14 Fred Jones
Coach:
Australia 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]

References

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  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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