OCTOBER 2017
For rugby league traditionalists, the 2017 World Cup got off to a sad start, with France losing 29-18 to Lebanon in Canberra, with the Cedars’ halfback, Mitchell Moses named Man of the Match.
For some people, a win by relative newcomers, Lebanon sounds like a good result for the code. But not to my way of thinking, when you consider virtually all the players came from Australian clubs.
France, the country which pushed for, and hosted, the inaugural World Cup in 1954, consisted almost entirely of players who came through the French system. France was once part of the ‘Big Four’ – Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain being the other members.
The fact French League has slipped so dramatically is a catastrophe for the game, especially when you consider the French took series off Australia in 1951 and ’55 in Australia; drew the 1960 series here, and won series against the Kangaroos, in France, in 1952-53; 1967-68 and 1978. France also made the final of the 1954 and 1968 World Cups, and I had the privilege of being in the crowd of 54,290, at the SCG, for the 1968 match.
The 2017 match between France and Lebanon drew just 5,429 in Canberra. The scores were locked 18-18 with six minutes to go, when Moses kicked a field goal. Moses and winger, Travis Robinson scored late tries to seal the result. France had thrilled the crowd at different stages, with audacious off-loads, run-arounds and flick passes, but they didn’t have the organisational expertise of their rivals.
The good news for the game in France is that the International Board has designated it as the host country for the 2025 World Cup. But what if the host country fails to even make the quarter finals, in a country where rugby union is now the dominant of the two rugby codes, by a long way?
The 2017 World Cup began with Australia defeating England 18-4 at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, with Kangaroos fullback, Billy Slater man of the match. The official opening ceremony saw former French centre, Louis Bonnery carrying the flag of his country. Bonnery was coach of the 1981 French side in Australia. That was the first Test series I covered as a fulltime sports writer.
England opened the scoring through a try by winger, Jermaine McGillvary, but Australia hit back with tries to Slater and Matt Gillett. Winger, Dane Gagai and interchange players, Jordan McLean and Wade Graham made their Test debuts for Australia, while English interchange player, Ben Currie made his debut.
The final score did not reflect how competitive England were, after being meticulously prepared by Australian coach, Wayne Bennett.
Lismore Marist Brothers’ graduate, David Mead scored three tries in Papua New Guinea’s 50-6 win over Wales in Port Moresby, with the Welsh unable to handle the hot conditions. It was horrible to watch, with the Welsh defence flimsy at best. But the capacity crowd of 14,800 lapped up the action, with the noise from the fans remaining at a high level for the 80 minutes. It was PNG’s first victory at the World Cup since 2000, when they beat Tonga, in Toulouse. I covered PNG’s loss to Wales at Widnes, in the 2000 World Cup quarter finals. Wayne Bennett’s younger brother, Bob Bennett was PNG coach on that occasion. Michael Marum was coach in 2017.
Second rower, Rhys Martin scored two tries and kicked five goals in Port Moresby, to become the Kumuls’ highest ever scorer. Wales’ only try, was scored by Port Talbot lad, Regan Grace, one of the few Welshmen who would have featured in discussions, if a Great Britain touring side was to be chosen. Grace switched to rugby union – in France – at the end of the 2022 English Super League season.
A lot of people had written off New Zealand, because a number of players had decided to play for heritage countries, Samoa and Tonga. But the Kiwis had too much class for Samoa in Auckland, winning 38-8 in front of a crowd of 17,857, which seemed like a Samoan home crowd.
The match featured the debut of giant Storm forward, Nelson Asofa-Solomona for the Kiwis, a man the All Blacks had in their sights.
With skipper, Kevin Naiqama leading the way, Fiji outclassed the USA 58-12 in Townsville, in front of a disappointing crowd of 5,103. Jarryd Hayne’s second half try saw him join ‘Immortal’, Bob Fulton, as leading try scorer in World Cup history, with 13.
The USA squad was a 50-50 blend of domestic and overseas talent. The most prominent ‘overseas’ player was Eddy Pettybourne, while USA clubs represented in the squad included Central Florida Warriors, Delaware Black Foxes and Atlanta Rhinos.
Barlow Park in Cairns hosted a double header, with Ireland defeating Italy 36-12 in the first match, while Tonga belted Scotland 50-4. James Tedesco, who would go on to captain Australia in the 2022 tournament in England, played fullback for Italy.
Centre Michael Jennings, who had played seven Tests for Australia, prior to the 2017 tournament, scored three tries for Tonga. Scotland, who held New Zealand to an 18-18 draw in the 2016 Four Nations tournament, had no answer to the power of the Tongans. There were no players from Scottish clubs in the Bravehearts’ line-up. Likewise, there were no players from Tongan clubs in their line-up. My point? You work it out.
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