1968 Rugby League World Cup Final

1968 (1968) Rugby League World Cup Final  ()
Australia France (ARL) (FFR XIII) 20 2
1 2 Total AUS 7 12 20 FRA 0 2 2
Date	10 June 1968
Stadium	Sydney Cricket Ground
Location	Sydney, Australia
Man of the Match	John Wittenberg
Referees	John Percival
Attendance	54,290
Broadcast partners
Rugby League World Cup Final ← 1954 1970 →

The 1968 Rugby League World Cup Final was the conclusive game of the 1968 Rugby League World Cup tournament and was played between Australia and France on 10 June 1968 at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Australia.

The final had been billed a 'debacle' following Great Britain's inexplicable loss to France in Auckland, leaving them to contest the final despite being beaten by Australia seven tries to none two days prior.^[1] Nonetheless, it attracted a then record crowd of 54,290 for a World Cup Final, though it wasn't the record World Cup attendance as the second match of the tournament between Australia and Great Britain (won 25-10 by Australia) had drawn 62,256 to the SCG, a record that would not fall until 73,631 attended the 1992 World Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.

Background[]

The 1968 Rugby League World Cup was the fourth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since its inauguration in 1954, and the first since the 1960 tournament. The tournament was held in the Australia and New Zealand from 25 May, culminating in the final between Australia and France on 10 June.

Australia[]

Scores and results list Australia's points tally first.

Opposing Team	For	Against	Date	Venue	Attendance	Stage
Great Britain	25	10	25 May	Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney	62,256	Group Stage
New Zealand	31	12	1 June	Lang Park, Brisbane	23,608	Group Stage
France	37	4	8 June	Lang Park, Brisbane	32,664	Group Stage

Australia were undefeated going into the final.

France[]

Scores and results list France's points tally first.

Opposing Team	For	Against	Date	Venue	Attendance	Stage
New Zealand	15	10	25 May	Carlaw Park, Auckland	18,000	Group Stage
Great Britain	7	2	2 June	Carlaw Park, Auckland	15,760	Group Stage
Australia	4	37	8 June	Lang Park, Brisbane	32,664	Group Stage

France had a 2-1 record going into the Final

Match details[]

Although it had been anticipated before the tournament that it would be an Australia vs Great Britain WCF, the French surprised by making the Final after defeating both New Zealand and Great Britain in the preliminary games. The match attracted a World Cup Final record crowd of 54,290.

10 June 1968

Australia	20 – 2	France
Try: Lionel Williamson (2) Ron Coote Johnny Greaves Goals: Eric Simms (4)	[2]	Try: Goals: Field Goals: Jean Capdouze (1)

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 54,290 Referee: John Percival Player of the Match: John Wittenberg

Australia

France

FB 1 Eric Simms LW 2 Johnny Rhodes RC 3 Graeme Langlands LC 4 Johnny Greaves RW 5 Lionel Williamson FE 6 Bob Fulton HB 7 Billy Smith LK 8 Johnny Raper (c) SR 9 Ron Coote SR 10 Dick Thornett PR 11 Arthur Beetson HK 12 Fred Jones PR 13 John Wittenberg Substitutions: IC 14 IC 15 Elton Rasmussen Coach: Harry Bath

FB 1 Jean-Claude Cros RW 2 Daniel Pellerin RC 3 Jacques Gruppi LC 4 Jean-Pierre Lecompte LW 19 Jean-René Ledru FE 6 Jean Capdouze HB 7 Roger Garrigue PR 8 Christian Sabatié HK 9 Yves Bégou PR 10 George Ailleres (c) SR 11 Francis de Nadai SR 12 Henri Marracq LF 13 Jean-Pierre Clar Substitutions: IC 14 IC 16 Jacques Gruppi Coach: Jep Lacoste

The undefeated Australians went into the tournament decider as favourites.^[3] However France offered stern resistance and held the Australians to 0–7 at half-time and with quarter of an hour were only 0–12 down before losing 2–20. It was Australia's second World Cup title.^[4]

References[]

See also[]

• Rugby League World Cup
• Australia national rugby league team
• France national rugby league team
• List of rugby league test matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground