Australian centre, Reg Gasnier has the French defence at sixes and sevens
Captain-coach, Arthur Summons returned in triumph to the Test arena as the Kangaroos levelled the series with France as the result of a 21-9 win in Toulouse. Summons had been sidelined by injury in Britain and also missed the First Test against France in Bordeaux where the home side hung on for a 8-5 win.
The Second Test opened in spectacular fashion when Australian prop, Peter Gallagher toed a loose ball ahead, gathered and found Summons in support. The former rugby union star put centre, Graeme Langlands over between the posts.
The tourists scored four more tries with Ken Thornett notching one of them to become the first Australian fullback to score a try against both Britain and France. Lock Johnny Raper’s defence was deadly against an excellent French outfit and his copybook tackles often drew applause from the crowd of over 10,000.
But it was the pace of the Australian backs – Langlands, Gasnier and Ken Irvine in particular – that left fans open mouthed. Irvine scored two tries, the first a classic with Gasnier breaking clear inside his own quarter before sending Irvine on a 50 metre dash to the line.
French referee, Edouard Martung from Bordeaux let play flow and earned praise from Australian management for the way he controlled the game.
Legendary former French Sports Star of the Year, Puig Aubert was a spectator at the game and rated the Australian backs as being superior to the Kangaroo outfits he played against in the early 1950s.
“These Australian forwards know they have to get the ball to their backs,” Aubert said.
Writing in in Miroir des Sports, Roger Bastide said the Kangaroos style of play was a joy to watch.
“True. It didn’t approach the romantic style of France in her golden years, but it was classical rugby – direct, athletic and effective,” Bastide wrote. “Unlike us the Australian ball carrier was never left without support.”
After that early setback the French fought well and trailed only 11-2 at halftime. In the end the Kangaroos scored four tries to one. The home’s try came from Toulouse winger, Jean Etcheberry. France bombed a certain try in the 70th minutes when exciting former rugby union fullback, Andrew Carrere from Lezignan breached the defence and ran 50 metres only to ignore the unmarked Laurent Roldos (Carcassonne) on his right. Seconds later Graeme Wilson intercepted and Irvine scored his second.
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