1968_Rugby_League_World_Cup_final

1968 Rugby League World Cup final

1968 Rugby League World Cup final

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The 1968 Rugby League World Cup final was the conclusive game of the 1968 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Australia and France on 10 June 1968 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.

Quick Facts Rugby League World Cup final (), Australia ...

The final had been billed a 'debacle' following Great Britain's inexplicable loss to France in Auckland, leaving them to contest the final despite being beaten by Australia seven tries to nil two days prior.[1] Nonetheless, it attracted a then record crowd of 54,290 for a World Cup final, though it wasn't the record World Cup attendance as the second match of the tournament between Australia and Great Britain (won 25-10 by Australia) had drawn 62,256 to the SCG, a record that would not fall until 73,631 attended the 1992 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

Background

Main article: 1968 Rugby League World Cup

The 1968 Rugby League World Cup was the fourth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 1960 tournament. The tournament was held in the Australia and New Zealand from 25 May, culminating in the final between Australia and France on 10 June.

Australia

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.
More information Opposing Team, For ...

Australia were undefeated going into the final.

France

Scores and results list France's points tally first.
More information Opposing Team, For ...

France had a 2–1 record going into the Final

Match details

Although it had been anticipated before the tournament that it would be an Australia vs Great Britain WCF, the French surprised by making the Final after defeating both New Zealand and Great Britain in the preliminary games. The match attracted a World Cup final record crowd of 54,290.

More information Australia, 20–2 ...
10 June 1968
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Attendance: 54,290
Referee: John Percival (New Zealand)
Player of the Match: John Wittenberg (Australia)
Australia
France
FB1 Eric Simms
LW2 Johnny Rhodes
RC3 Graeme Langlands
LC4 Johnny Greaves
RW5 Lionel Williamson
FE6 Bob Fulton
HB7 Billy Smith
LK8 Johnny Raper (c)
SR9 Ron Coote
SR10 Dick Thornett
PR11 Arthur Beetson
HK12 Fred Jones
PR13 John Wittenberg
Substitutions:
IC15 Elton Rasmussen
Coach:
Australia Harry Bath
FB1 Jean-Claude Cros
RW2 Daniel Pellerin
RC3 Jacques Gruppi
LC4 Jean-Pierre Lecompte
LW19 Jean-René Ledru
FE6 Jean Capdouze
HB7 Roger Garrigue
PR8 Christian Sabatié
HK9 Yves Bégou
PR10 George Ailleres (c)
SR11 Francis de Nadai
SR12 Henri Marracq
LF13 Jean-Pierre Clar
Substitutions:
IC16 Jacques Gruppi
Coach:
France Jep Lacoste

The undefeated Australians went into the tournament decider as favourites.[3] However, France offered stern resistance and held the Australians to only a 7–0 lead at half-time, and with quarter of an hour left were only 12–0 down before losing 20–2. It was Australia's second World Cup title.[4]

References

  1. [1]
    "Rugby league debacle". The Age. 10 June 1968. p. 21. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  2. [2]
    Report
  3. [3]
    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.
  4. [4]
    1968 Rugby League World Cup final highlights

See also
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