OCTOBER 1972
Australia suffered a shock first-up defeat at the hands of a much-maligned Great Britain side in the 1972 World Cup tournament in France. Before leaving Australia, captain, Graeme Langlands had declared his squad the strongest to leave these shores since the 1963-64 Kangaroos, who won both Test series, in Britain and France.
Captained by Welshman, Clive Sullivan, Britain scored five tries to four, in their 27-21 win in Perpignan, with Frenchman, Claude Teisseire the referee. Prop, Terry Clawson kicked six goals from six shots for Britain, while five eighth, Bob Fulton scored three tries for Australia.
Hard hitting defence from the British rattled the Australians, with the Kangaroos’ attacking cohesion going out the window.
Sullivan was the first black man to captain Britain in any team sport. A former rugby union player from Cardiff, Sullivan possessed blistering pace, as he displayed when he scored three tries against New Zealand in the 1968 World Cup in Sydney.
Clawson’s return to the Test arena (he made his debut in 1962) was amazing, given he had been diagnosed with tuberculosis in 1963, and was told he could die in his 20s. He was not chosen for Britain again, until the ’72 tournament.
Teisseire awarded Britain a seven point try, ruling that Australian forward, John Elford had attempted a late tackle on winger, John Atkinson, as the Leeds’ policeman put the ball down for a try.
Legendary Sydney radio broadcaster, Frank Hyde led a supporters’ tour to the tournament, with around 120 people travelling around France, in three coaches.
AAP-Reuter (news agency) reported that a number of Australians had also travelled independently to France.
“The centre of this Mediterranean city (Perpignan) is thronged with strolling Australians, taking in its attractions, which range from a large travelling fair ground, to a sex shop,” AAP reported.
One of the British try scorers was mercurial Widnes’ five eighth, Dennis O’Neill, who earned a late call-up, after the withdrawal of Hull Kingston Rovers’ superstar, Roger Millward.
O’Neill seemed destined for greatness, after making his First Grade debut for Widnes against Leigh, as a 17-year-old, scoring a try in a 27-25 loss at Naughton Park. Leigh coach, Gerry Helme described O’Neill as “another Millward.” But injuries meant O’Neill was never able to hit the highs predicted by teammates, rival coaches and players, and the media, and he finished with just three Great Britain ‘caps’ in his career.
In 2013, dual Rugby International, Ray French, a BBC commentator, described O’Neill as “one of the finest attacking stand-offs I ever played with or against. In terms of splitting a defence with breathtaking changes of pace, he is still up there with the best I’ve seen over the past 50 years of my playing and commentating days.”
After the loss, changes were made to the Australian side for the next match against the Kiwis in Paris, some forced by injury. For instance, John Grant, the only Queensland based player in the squad, replaced the injured Mark Harris (another Queenslander, who played for Easts in Sydney) on the wing.
The Australian team had been officially farewelled at a function at New South Wales Leagues Club in Sydney, with NSW Country secretary, John O’Toole the host. The team managers were ‘Clancy’ Kingston from the Country League and Jack ‘Guv’ Clarke, from Ipswich in Queensland.
In his book ‘Their Finest Hour’ (a History of the Rugby League World Cup), New Zealand journalist, Andrew Marmont wrote that Kingston and Langlands didn’t get on, with coach, Harry Bathy filthy that their bickering was affecting team harmony.
Marmont wrote that Bath locked Langlands and Kingston in a room, and demanded they settle their differences. From all reports, It did no good.
At the end of the 1972 domestic season in Australia, ‘Country Rugby Football League of New South Wales’ secretary, John O’Toole proudly declared that the 13-man code continued to be the major sport in the bush.
More than 53,000 boys played rugby league in organised competitions, with a host of school carnivals also held at regional centres, such as Grafton, Holbrook, Dubbo, Forbes, Tumbarumba, Coonabarabran, Goulburn, Cowra, Leeton, Narrabri, Bega, Lake Cargelligo, Gilgandra, Armidale, Wagga, Nowra, Bathurst, Kempsey, Tamworth, Cootamundra, Walgett, Glen Innes, Casino, Junee, Cooma and Hillston.
Would it be possible to conduct that many carnivals in 2022? I wonder.
When I attended Murwillumbah High School (1965-70) I played in carnivals at Ballina, Casino, Grafton and Gosford, with Casino the most prestigious on the North Coast. In 1972, the Opens title at Casino was won by Woodlawn College from Lismore, with Rev. Brother T Garrett the coach.
Footnote: France defeated New Zealand 20-9 in Marseilles in the other 1972 World Cup match played in October. Australia and Britain played a 10-10 draw in the final in Lyon on November 11, with Britain awarded the trophy on the basis they were the only undefeated side in the tournament.
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