The 1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage was the main component of the 1972 Rugby League World Cup, with the top two nations qualifying for the World Cup final. The group consisted of hosts France as well as Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Ladder edit
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Great Britain
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 44 | +49 | 6 | Advances to the Final |
 Australia
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 61 | 41 | +20 | 4 | |
 France
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 53 | −20 | 2 | |
 New Zealand
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 82 | −49 | 0 |
Source: [citation needed]
Matches edit
France vs New Zealand edit
Saturday 28 October
|
| France
|
20–9 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Jean-Marie Bonal (2) Andre Ruiz Goals: Bernard Guilhem (4) Jean-Marie Bonal (1) Field Goals: Marius Frattini (1) |
[1] |
Tries: Phillip Orchard (2) Mocky Brereton Goals: |
         France
|
    New Zealand
|
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France kicked off the tournament by sharing six tries with the Kiwis but a massive penalty count in their favour allowed the French to dictate play, their five goals and a drop goal to none by the Kiwis proving decisive.
Great Britain vs Australia edit
Sunday 29 October
|
| Great Britain
|
27–21 | Australia
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: John Atkinson Phil Lowe Dennis O'Neill Mike Stephenson Clive Sullivan Goals: Terry Clawson (6/6) |
[2] |
Tries: Bob Fulton (3) Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Graeme Langlands (4) Field Goals: Bob McCarthy (1) |
  Great Britain
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    Australia
|
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At Perpignan a monumental struggle finally went Britain's way 27–21 against the Kangaroos, for whom Bob Fulton grabbed three tries in a lost cause.
France vs Great Britain edit
Wednesday 1 November
|
| France
|
4–13 | Great Britain
|
|---|---|---|
| Try: Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (1) Victor Serrano (1) |
[3] |
Try: Phil Lowe (2) Clive Sullivan Goals: |
| France
|
Great Britain
|
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Great Britain overcame France 13–4 to qualify for the final with outstanding second-rower Phil Lowe scoring two tries.
Australia vs New Zealand edit
Wednesday 1 November
|
| Australia
|
9–5 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Bob Fulton Dennis Ward Goals: Ray Branighan (1) Field Goals: Bob Fulton (1) |
[4] |
Tries: John Whittaker Goals: John Wilson (1) |
| Australia
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New Zealand
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New Zealand gave Australia a hard time, the first half being scoreless, before going down 9–5.
Great Britain vs New Zealand edit
Saturday 4 November
|
| Great Britain
|
53–19 | New Zealand
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: John Atkinson (2) John Holmes (2) Paul Charlton Chris Hesketh David Jeanes Steve Nash George Nicholls Mike Stephenson Clive Sullivan Goals: John Holmes (10) |
[5] |
Tries: Bill Burgoyne Tony Coll Murray Eade John Whittaker Dennis Williams Goals: John Wilson (2) |
| Great Britain
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New Zealand
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Great Britain hammered New Zealand 53–19, a World Cup record score, with young stand-off John Holmes collecting 26 points (10 goals, 2 tries) – another World Cup record.
France vs Australia edit
Sunday 5 November
|
| France
|
9–31 | Australia
|
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Andre Ruiz Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (3) |
[6] |
Tries: Mark Harris (2) Paul Sait (2) Bob Fulton John O'Neill Elwyn Walters Goals: Ray Branighan (5) |
| France
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Australia
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Australia had to beat France at Toulouse to reach the final in the last game of the preliminaries, a task which proved well within their capabilities.