1995 Rugby League World Cup

Teams

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup squads

Ten teams competed in the Centenary World Cup: Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and Western Samoa. It was the first time since the 1975 World Series that England and Wales competed, rather than Great Britain. Fiji, South Africa, Tonga and Western Samoa all made their World Cup débuts. Scotland and Ireland took part in the Emerging Nations Tournament that was held alongside the World Cup.

Australia was missing some of their best players, a number of whom had been part of the 1994 Kangaroos squad, due to the Super League war and the ARL's refusal to select Super League-aligned players. Australia's win in the end, with what many considered to be a second-string side, was seen as a blow to the Super League organisation, with which every other nation was aligned.

Canberra Raiders players Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart, Bradley Clyde, Steve Walters and Brett Mullins, won a court order against the ARL making Super League players eligible for representative games. Despite assurances from the ARL that all players were considered, only ARL loyal players were selected for the Kangaroos World Cup squad.

Venues

The games were played at various venues in England and Wales.

Wembley Stadium in London was the host stadium for the opening ceremony and match featuring hosts England and defending champions Australia. Wembley, England's national stadium, would also host the Final of the tournament.

Group stage

Group A

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group A

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Group B

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group B

Group C

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup Group C

Knockout Stage

Semi-finals

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup knockout stage

England as expected defeated reigning European Champions Wales in their semi-final at Old Trafford. The other Semi at Huddersfield almost produced a boil over. After defeating New Zealand 3–0 in the Trans-Tasman Test series earlier in the year, and with the Kiwis lackluster form in their Group B games, Australia was expected to easily account for Frank Endacott's side, but the Kiwis found form and the game ended 20–all at the end of 80 minutes (following a missed sideline conversion attempt by the Kiwis Matthew Ridge and a missed left foot drop goal attempt by the same player - both in the last few minutes of regular time). However, 20 minutes of extra time saw Australia skip away to a 30–20 win to book their place in the Final at Wembley.

Final

Main article: 1995 Rugby League World Cup final

The Australians had reached the final after a hard-fought 30–20 Semi-final win over New Zealand at the McAlpine Stadium which had gone into extra time after the score was locked at 20-all after 80 minutes. Their opponents and tournament host England, had an easier time defeating Wales 25–10 in their semi at Old Trafford. Kangaroos captain and five-eighth Brad Fittler and fullback Tim Brasher were the only members of Australia's 1992 World Cup final win over Great Britain at Wembley, with both players in the same positions as they had been three years previously.

England's captain Shaun Edwards ruled himself out of the final with an infected knee. Despite almost being ruled out of the tournament with pneumonia, St Helens centre Paul Newlove was selected by coach Phil Larder for starting line-up in the final. Larder also handed the captaincy to veteran test forward Denis Betts. With the former Wigan back rower now playing for the Auckland Warriors in the Australian premiership, his selection as captain created history as he became the first player to captain England while not currently playing in the British competition.

After winning in 1992, Australian coach Bob Fulton became just the second coach (after Harry Bath) to win two Rugby League World Cups. It was Fulton's 5th World Cup win after also winning in 1968, 1970 and 1975 as a player. Coincidentally, Fulton's coach in the 1968 and 1970 World Cup finals was Harry Bath.

Status Quo performed the pre-match entertainment, performing When You Walk in the Room and Rockin' All Over the World.

Paul Newlove

Goals: Bobby Goulding (2/3) Rod Wishart Tim Brasher Goals: Andrew Johns (4/6)

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First half

England won the coin toss and Australia's Andrew Johns kicked off the match. In England's first set with the ball Australia were penalised for their skipper Brad Fittler's high tackle on Andrew Farrell. From the resulting good field position England were able to force a line drop-out and get another set of six in Australia's half of the field. At the end of the set, Radlinski put up a high kick, which Australia's fullback Tim Brasher failed to secure and Australia were penalised for regathering the ball when off-side. Bobbie Goulding kicked the penalty goal from fifteen metres out, giving his side a 2–0 lead. From Australia's resulting kick-off, the English players couldn't secure the ball and it was regathered by the Kangaroos deep in the opposition half. On the last tackle of the ensuing set, Johns at first receiver put a chip kick into the left-hand corner of England's in-goal area where winger Rod Wishart dived in and got a hand on it, giving Australia the first try of the match in the seventh minute. Johns then converted the try from the touch-line and the Kangaroos were leading 6–2. A few minutes later England were penalised around the centre of the field and Johns attempted the kick at goal but missed. With the game now swinging from end to end, Johns conceded a penalty close to the goal posts and Goulding's kick bounced off the uprights but went in,

Second half

After making their way into good attacking field position, England played the ball ten metres out from Australia's goal-line where centre Paul Newlove at dummy-half ran the ball at the defence forced his way through to score in the left corner. The play continued swinging from one end of the field to the other, with neither team able to capitalise on their scoring opportunities for the next twenty minutes. Australian interchange player Jason Smith was blood binned and had to return to the bench. A few minutes later the Kangaroos had made their way deep into England's half when, on the last tackle, the ball was moved through the hands and eventually flicked passed back from Johns as he was being tackled to the feet of Brasher who kicked it ahead to the try-line. Both fullbacks then scrambled to get to the ball and the referee ruled that Brasher had grounded it, awarding Australia a try. Johns converted the try so Australia lead 16–8 with just over 10 minutes remaining. England forward Karl Harrison then had to come off the field with an injured arm. A few minutes from full-time Australian forward Mark Carroll was sent to the sin-bin for an infringement in the ruck. The remainder of the match extended into additional injury time but was played with no further points so Australia retained the World Cup with a 16–8 victory and their fifth consecutive world title.

21-year-old Andrew Johns was named man-of-the-match. Kangaroos coach Bob Fulton had named the young half as the team hooker, and he did indeed pack into the scrums. However Johns played at halfback in general play with Geoff Toovey having the dummy-half duties, necessary because Toovey had actually injured his neck during the tournament and simply could not pack into the front row in the scrums.

Following the match Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex presented Kangaroos captain Brad Fittler with the Cup and each of the players with medals. During the 1990 Kangaroo Tour, an 18-year-old Fittler had reportedly broken protocol when he had said "G'day dude" to Prince Edward's father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh when the team had met the Duke as part of the tour. History allegedly repeated itself as Fittler was heard to say "Thanks dude" to Prince Edward when receiving the World Cup on the Wembley balcony.

Team of the tournament

The following players were selected as the 1995 World Cup "Team of the Tournament"

Try scorers

;6 tries

• AUS Steve Menzies

;5 tries

• AUS Robbie O'Davis

;4 tries

• AUS Tim Brasher
• ENG Paul Newlove
• WAL Anthony Sullivan

;3 tries

• AUS Brett Dallas
• AUS Terry Hill
• AUS John Hopoate
• ENG Jason Robinson
• NZL Richie Blackmore
• SAM Vila Matautia

;2 tries

• AUS Mark Coyne
• AUS Andrew Johns
• AUS Paul McGregor
• AUS Danny Moore
• ENG Paul Broadbent
• ENG Simon Haughton
• ENG Martin Offiah
• ENG Nick Pinkney
• ENG Kris Radlinski
• ENG Tony Smith
• FIJ Fili Seru
• FIJ Waisale Sovatabua
• NZL Sean Hoppe
• SAM Tony Tatupu
• SAM Va'aiga Tuigamala
• TON Awen Guttenbeil
• TON Una Taufa
• TON Willie Wolfgramm
• WAL Iestyn Harris

;1 try

• AUS Jim Dymock
• AUS Brad Fittler
• AUS Nik Kosef
• AUS Gary Larson
• AUS Aaron Raper
• AUS Jason Smith
• AUS Rod Wishart
• ENG John Bentley
• ENG Denis Betts
• ENG Phil Clarke
• ENG Andrew Farrell
• ENG Bobbie Goulding
• ENG Chris Joynt
• ENG Dean Sampson
• FIJ Joe Dakuitoga
• FIJ Samuela Marayawa
• FIJ Noa Nadruku
• FIJ Kalaveti Naisoro
• FIJ Ian Sagaitu
• FIJ Savenaca Taga
• FRA Didier Cabestany
• FRA Pierre Chamorin
• FRA Patrick Torreilles
• NZL Richie Barnett
• NZL Kevin Iro
• NZL Tony Iro
• NZL Tony Kemp
• NZL Hitro Okesene
• NZL Matthew Ridge
• PNG Marcus Bai
• PNG David Buko
• PNG Stanley Gene
• PNG Adrian Lam
• PNG Elias Paiyo
• PNG Lucas Solbat
• SAM Brian Laumatia
• SAM Apollo Perelini
• SAM Willie Swann
• SAM Paki Tuimavave
• RSA Gideon Watts
• TON Salesi Finau
• TON Phil Howlett
• TON Tau'alupe Liku
• TON Jimmy Veikoso
• WAL John Devereux
• WAL Kevin Ellis
• WAL Rowland Phillips

References

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