1968 Rugby League World Cup

Background

The World Cup was initially set to be played in 1965 however, the Australian Board of Control recommended postponing the tournament to which the English Rugby League Council agreed in November 1964.

For the first time a final to determine the World Cup was specifically pre-arranged (previous finals having only been used when teams finished level on points) and the tournament made a profit for the first time.

The 1968 World Cup was the first to be played under limited tackles rules, the number then being four tackles. The round 1 match between Great Britain and Australia attracted an attendance of 62,256, the highest for a World Cup match until 1992. The final was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground; a crowd of 54,290 watched Australia defeat France. The stars of the Australian team in the tournament were skipper Johnny Raper, second-rower Ron Coote, who scored spectacular tries in each and every game, and the dead-shot kicker Eric Simms, who harvested a record 25 goals (50 points).

Squads

Main article: 1968 Rugby League World Cup squads

Venues

Group Stage

date = 25 May | home = | score = 10 – 15 | away = | stadium = Carlaw Park, Auckland | attendance = 18,000 | referee = Col Pearce (AUS) France: Jean-Claude Cros; Daniel Pellerin, Michel Molinier, Jean-Pierre Lecompte, André Ferren; Jean Capdouze, Roger Garrigue; Georges Ailleres (c), Yves Bégou, Christian Sabatié, Francis de Nadaï, Henri Marracq, Jean-Pierre Clar

New Zealand: R Tait; R Mincham, H Sinel, P Schultz, E Wiggs; J Bond (c), J Clarke; O Danielson, Colin O'Neil, George Smith, B Lee, J Dixon, A Kriletich; Henry Tatana.

After only twelve minutes, New Zealand second-rower Brian Lee was sent off in a match in which the classy French stand-off Jean Capdouze bagged 13 points. The game was also notable for the first World Cup substitution when Adolphe Alésina replaced second-rower Francis de Nadaï.

date = 25 May | home = | score = 25 – 10 | away = | stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | attendance = 62,256 A record World Cup crowd of 62,256 saw New Zealand referee John Percival mercilessly penalising Great Britain, with debutant full-back Eric Simms booting a record eight goals in Australia's win.

date = 1 June | home = | score = 31 – 12 | away = | stadium = Lang Park, Brisbane | attendance = 23,608 | Simms repeated the feat of kicking eight goals as he had in the previous match as Australia eventually killed off New Zealand at Brisbane after trailing for much of the game.

date = 2 June | home = | score = 7 – 2 | away = | stadium = Carlaw Park, Auckland | attendance = 15,760 | France surprised Britain in a rain-ruined match at Auckland with an uncharacteristically stubborn defensive display and winger Jean-René Ledru, scoring the winning try to qualify for a World Cup final showdown against Australia.

date = 8 June | home = | score = 37 – 4 | away = | stadium = Lang Park, Brisbane | attendance = 32,664 | In the final preliminary game in Brisbane, Australia's scrum-half back Billy Smith dropped three goals. French winger Jean-René Ledru and Australia's prop Artie Beetson were both sent off.

date = 8 June | home = | score = 38 – 14 | away = | stadium = Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney | attendance = 14,105 |

Final

Main article: 1968 Rugby League World Cup final

The final had been billed a 'debacle' following Great Britain's inexplicable loss to France in Auckland, resulting in France contesting the final against Australia despite having been beaten by Australia seven tries to none two days prior.{{cite news | access-date = 6 October 2009}} Nonetheless, it attracted a record crowd of 54,290 for a World Cup final match. Lionel Williamson (2) Ron Coote Johnny Greaves Goals: Eric Simms (4)

Goals:

Field Goals: Jean Capdouze (1)

|}

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

Try scorers

;4

• AUS Ron Coote
• AUS Lionel Williamson
• GBR Clive Sullivan

;3

• NZL Paul Schultz

;2

• AUS Bob Fulton
• AUS Johnny Greaves
• AUS Johnny King
• AUS Billy Smith
• GBR Ian Brooke
• GBR Alan Burwell

;1

• AUS Fred Jones
• AUS Johnny Raper
• FRA Jean Capdouze
• FRA Jean-René Ledru
• GBR Arnie Morgan
• GBR Mick Shoebottom
• NZL Spencer Dunn

References

Inline

General

References

1. (3 November 1964). "England Agrees To Postpone Rugby League World Cup". [[The Press]].
2. [[#McCann2006. McCann, 2006]]: 83
3. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QMPuabB-LU&t=939s 1968 RLWC Australia vs Great Britain]
4. [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/world-cup-1968/final/australia-vs-france.html Report]
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.