French prop, Francois Rinaldi (Marseilles) off loads under pressure from Kiwis, Bill McLennan (Blackball) and Cliff Johnson (Richmond) in Paris
French rugby league superstar, Puig Aubert embarked on a crash course weight loss program heading into the inaugural Rugby League World Cup to be held in France during the Northern Hemisphere autumn. Aubert, the only rugby league player to ever be named French Sports Star of the Year, loved the good life – wine, food and cigarettes – and fought a constant battle with his weight.
French Rugby League Team Manager, Antoine Blain insisted on Aubert getting into shape before the opening game of the World Cup – against the Kiwis in at Parc de Princes, Paris, on October 31 – and he was given extra duties in the team camp at the National Sports Institute in the Vincennes Woods outside Paris.
“Our Pipette lost a good eight kilos,” Blain boasted. “Of course there’s plenty more to come off.”
Aubert kicked four goals and a field goal in France’s 22-13 win over the Kiwis, and was the crowd favourite with his deft kicks in general play; his long-range touch finders and the ease with which he sidestepped two or three rivals with his ‘trademark shimmy’.
“I hope he realises that a dry regime like the one he’d ‘enjoyed’ at the Institute would be of such great benefit in prolonging his career, and enabling him to keep producing those 55 metre goals, like the one he kicked today,” Blain said. “He seemed to cast a spell over the opposition, and gave France a vital psychological advantage.”
Writing for Miroir-Sprint, Emile Toulouse said Aubert’s mere presence seemed to create an inferiority complex in the Kiwi ranks.
France led 12-8 at halftime with tries to Agen born physical fitness instructor, Raymond Contrastin (Bordeaux)) and Guy Delaye (Marseilles), while Jim Edwards (Marist Auckland) and Cyril Eastlake (Ellerslie) scored tries for the Kiwis. On the resumption, lock, Joseph Crespo (Lyon) scored a smart individual try, and soon after a bullocking run by 110kg Delaye, followed by a neat pass, gave Jean Audobert (Lyon) a clear run to the line. Normally a halfback, Crespo gave way to Claude Teisseire from Carcassonne for this match.
New Zealand centre, Ron McKay (Marists Auckland) scored a consolation try which John Bond (Papanui) converted.
A special guest at the match was Tour de France winner, Louison Bobet, who was given the honour of kicking off.
“I’ve never seen a rugby match in my life, but wow!” said Bobet. “How brave and tough are these guys. But even I could see that it’s not just brute strength – there’s so much subtlety in the way they attack, and the pace! I’ll certainly be back.”
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