New Zealand took no notice of reputations when they made Australia fight every step of the way, for victory in a torrid World Cup clash at Parc de Princes, Paris.
Australia scored two tries to one in their 9-5 win, after a scoreless first half. It was an unconvincing display from a team rated one of the strongest to leave these shores.
‘Rugby League Week’ editor, Geoff Prenter said the Kangaroos almost certainly would have been beaten, if not for hooker, Elwyn Walters winning the second half scrums 7-4.
Prenter wrote that the Australians played as individuals, with prop, John ‘Lurch’ O’Neill, the worst offender.
“Bob O’Reilly tried to stir the Australian pack into action, but only John Elford gave him whole-hearted support,” Prenter wrote. “The Kiwis treated the Australian forwards like rag dolls. Elford stood out in defence. He was the one player giving back more than he received.
“Australian skipper, Graeme Langlands was a marked man. The Kiwis hit him with everything but the kitchen sink. Elford tried to retaliate, but he incurred the wrath of English referee, Mick Naughton.”
Murray Eade was the best of the Kiwi forwards, while halfback, Brian Tracey was the major threat in attack.
Five eighth, Bob Fulton was Australia’s main attacking weapon and opened the scoring with a field goal in the 50th minute. Halfback, Dennis Ward scored Australia’s first try six minutes later, with Ray Branighan converting from the sideline.
John Wilson kicked a penalty goal for the Kiwis in the 67th minute, but Australia seemingly put the result beyond doubt when Fulton scored from a brilliant O’Reilly pass in the 70th minute. But New Zealand had a never-say-die attitude and winger, John Whittaker raced 40 metres to score a try in the corner in the 77th minute, after he caught Langlands out of position.
The match marked the Test debut of Brisbane Souths’ centre, John Grant, who played on the wing. Grant had been overlooked for the match against Great Britain in Perpignan four days earlier (a match won by Britain), but made the most of his chances against the Kiwis.
“Grant rarely put a foot wrong, and added substance to Australia’s defence,” wrote Prenter. “He more than held his own.”
I interviewed Grant on December 10, 2022, at a Family of League Foundation lunch at Broncos Leagues Club, and he recalled being accepted by the Sydney players, right from the word go.
“We were in camp for three weeks before leaving Australia, and it was the hardest I have ever trained,” said Grant, the only Queensland based played in the 1972 Squad. “It was an enjoyable tour, and afterwards I linked with Warrington in England.” Grant went on to become the inaugural ARLC Chairman.
The crowd in Paris was only 6,000 at the 50,000 capacity stadium, including several hundred supporters from Australia, on package tours conducted by media personalities, Frank Hyde and Ray Warren and league officials, John O’Toole and Ken Arthurson.
Only one football was used – a rugby Adidas football – and the main stoppages occurred when the ball had to be retrieved from the stands.
On the same day, in Grenoble, the host country, France lost 13-4 to Great Britain, with tall, Hull Kingston Rovers’ forward, Phil Lowe in devastating attacking form for the Lions. Lowe was pushed for Man-of-the-Match honours by diminutive fullback, Paul Charlton, whose fearless running thrilled the fans.
Coming off a convincing win over the Kiwis, France went into the match full of optimism. While they defended well, they offered little in attack.
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Prenter’s comments on John Grant was as good as any Qlder could hope for back in the day. John must have been breathing a sigh of relief for the last 50 years. A world record maybe?