# 1972 Rugby League World Cup group stage

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

| 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 | Advances to the Final |
| France | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 33 | 53 | −20 | 2 | |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 82 | −49 | 0 | |

## Matches
### France vs New Zealand

* 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) | | Tries: Phillip Orchard (2) Mocky Brereton Goals: |
* Stade Vélodrome, Marseille Attendance: 20,748 Referee: Georges Jameau
| France | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Roger Toujas |
| RW | 2 | Serge Marsolan |
| CE | 3 | Michel Moliner |
| CE | 4 | Andre Ruiz |
| LW | 5 | Jean-Marie Bonal |
| SO | 6 | Bernard Guilhem |
| SH | 7 | Marius Frattini |
| PR | 8 | Francis de Nadai (c) |
| HK | 9 | Jacques Franc |
| PR | 10 | Jacques Garzino |
| SR | 11 | Victor Serrano |
| SR | 12 | Serge Gleyzes |
| LF | 13 | Michel Anglade |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Charles Zalduendo |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 | John Whittaker |
| RW | 2 | Phillip Orchard |
| CE | 3 | John O'Sullivan |
| CE | 4 | Roy Christian (c) |
| LW | 5 | Mocky Brereton |
| FE | 6 | Dennis Williams |
| HB | 7 | Brian Tracey |
| PR | 8 | Mita Mohi |
| HK | 9 | Bill Burgoyne |
| PR | 10 | Bob Paul |
| SR | 11 | Doug Gailey |
| SR | 12 | Peter Gurnick |
| LK | 13 | Murray Eade |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Graeme Cooksley |
| IC | 15 | Tony Coll |
| Coach: ||
| Des Barchard ||
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

* 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) | | Tries: Bob Fulton (3) Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Graeme Langlands (4) Field Goals: Bob McCarthy (1) |
* Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan Attendance: 6,324 Referee: Claude Teisseire
| Great Britain | Australia |
| FB | 1 | Paul Charlton |
| RW | 2 | Clive Sullivan (c) |
| CE | 3 | Chris Hesketh |
| CE | 4 | John Walsh |
| LW | 5 | John Atkinson |
| SO | 6 | Dennis O'Neill |
| SH | 7 | Steve Nash |
| PR | 8 | Terry Clawson |
| HK | 9 | Mike Stephenson |
| PR | 10 | David Jeanes |
| SR | 11 | Brian Lockwood |
| SR | 12 | Phil Lowe |
| LF | 13 | George Nicholls |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | John Holmes |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Challinor ||
| FB | 1 | Graeme Langlands (c) |
| RW | 2 | Stephen Knight |
| CE | 3 | Geoff Starling |
| CE | 4 | Ray Branighan |
| LW | 5 | Mark Harris |
| FE | 6 | Bob Fulton |
| HB | 7 | Tommy Raudonikis |
| PR | 8 | John O'Neill |
| HK | 9 | Elwyn Walters |
| PR | 10 | Arthur Beetson |
| SR | 11 | Bob McCarthy |
| SR | 12 | John Elford |
| LK | 13 | Gary Sullivan |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Dennis Ward |
| IC | 15 | Paul Sait |
| Coach: ||
| Harry Bath ||
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. An unusual incident occurred during the second half of the match. Following John Atkinson's try, Australian second rower John Elford came through with a swinging arm that only just missed its mark. The players didn't react to the incident with the British players only celebrating the try and not worrying about Elford's action. Then following Terry Clausen's successful conversion, French referee Claude Teisseire, instead of allowing the Australian's to re-start with a kick-off, instead gave Great Britain a penalty on halfway citing Elford's swinging arm. To rub salt into the Australian's wound, British captain Clive Sullivan opted for the kick at goal from halfway, which Clausen duly landed.

### France vs Great Britain

* Wednesday 1 November
| France | 4–13 | Great Britain |
| Try: Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (1) Victor Serrano (1) | | Try: Phil Lowe (2) Clive Sullivan Goals: |
* Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble Attendance: 5,321 Referee: F. Gril
| France | Great Britain |
| FB | 1 | Roger Toujas |
| RW | 2 | Serge Marsolan |
| CE | 3 | Michel Moliner |
| CE | 4 | Andre Ruiz |
| LW | 5 | Jean-Marie Bonal |
| SO | 6 | Bernard Guilhem |
| SH | 7 | Jean-Marie Imbert |
| PR | 8 | Francis de Nadai (c) |
| HK | 9 | Jacques Franc |
| PR | 10 | Jean-Paul Sauret |
| SR | 11 | Victor Serrano |
| SR | 12 | Serge Gleyzes |
| LF | 13 | Guy Rodriguez |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Charles Zalduendo |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 | Paul Charlton |
| RW | 2 | Clive Sullivan (c) |
| CE | 3 | Chris Hesketh |
| CE | 4 | John Walsh |
| LW | 5 | John Atkinson |
| SO | 6 | Dennis O'Neill |
| SH | 7 | Steve Nash |
| PR | 8 | Terry Clawson |
| HK | 9 | Mike Stephenson |
| PR | 10 | Brian Lockwood |
| SR | 11 | Colin Dixon |
| SR | 12 | Phil Lowe |
| LF | 13 | George Nicholls |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Challinor ||
Great Britain overcame France 13–4 to qualify for the final with outstanding second-rower Phil Lowe scoring two tries.

### Australia vs New Zealand

* Wednesday 1 November
| Australia | 9–5 | New Zealand |
| Tries: Bob Fulton Dennis Ward Goals: Ray Branighan (1) Field Goals: Bob Fulton (1) | | Tries: John Whittaker Goals: John Wilson (1) |
* Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Mick Naughton
| Australia | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Graeme Langlands (c) |
| RW | 2 | John Grant |
| CE | 3 | Ray Branighan |
| CE | 4 | Geoff Starling |
| LW | 5 | Stephen Knight |
| FE | 6 | Bob Fulton |
| HB | 7 | Dennis Ward |
| PR | 8 | John O'Neill |
| HK | 9 | Elwyn Walters |
| PR | 10 | Bob O'Reilly |
| SR | 11 | Gary Sullivan |
| SR | 12 | John Elford |
| LK | 13 | Paul Sait |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Gary Stevens |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| Harry Bath ||
| FB | 1 | John Wilson |
| RW | 2 | Phillip Orchard |
| CE | 3 | Mocky Brereton |
| CE | 4 | Roy Christian (c) |
| LW | 5 | John Whittaker |
| FE | 6 | Dennis Williams |
| HB | 7 | Brian Tracey |
| PR | 8 | Don Mann |
| HK | 9 | Bill Burgoyne |
| PR | 10 | Doug Gailey |
| SR | 11 | Murray Eade |
| SR | 12 | Bob Paul |
| LK | 13 | Peter Gurnick |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Rodney Walker |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| Des Barchard ||
New Zealand gave Australia a hard time, the first half being scoreless, before going down 9–5.

### Great Britain vs New Zealand

* 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) | | Tries: Bill Burgoyne Tony Coll Murray Eade John Whittaker Dennis Williams Goals: John Wilson (2) |
* Stade du Hameau, Pau Attendance: 7,500 Referee: Georges Jameau Player of the Match: John Holmes
| Great Britain | New Zealand |
| FB | 1 | Paul Charlton |
| RW | 2 | Clive Sullivan (c) |
| CE | 3 | Chris Hesketh |
| CE | 4 | John Walsh |
| LW | 5 | John Atkinson |
| SO | 6 | John Holmes |
| SH | 7 | Steve Nash |
| PR | 8 | David Jeanes |
| HK | 9 | Mike Stephenson |
| PR | 10 | Brian Lockwood |
| SR | 11 | Bob Irving |
| SR | 12 | Phil Lowe |
| LF | 13 | George Nicholls |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | David Redfearn |
| IC | 15 | Tony Karalius |
| Coach: ||
| Jim Challinor ||
| FB | 1 | John Wilson |
| RW | 2 | Phillip Orchard |
| CE | 3 | Mocky Brereton |
| CE | 4 | Roy Christian (c) |
| LW | 5 | John Whittaker |
| FE | 6 | Dennis Williams |
| HB | 7 | Brian Tracey |
| PR | 8 | Don Mann |
| HK | 9 | Bill Burgoyne |
| PR | 10 | Doug Gailey |
| SR | 11 | Murray Eade |
| SR | 12 | Tony Coll |
| LK | 13 | Peter Gurnick |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Warren Collicoat |
| IC | 15 | Rodney Walker |
| Coach: ||
| Des Barchard ||
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

* Sunday 5 November
| France | 9–31 | Australia |
| Tries: Andre Ruiz Goals: Jean-Marie Bonal (3) | | Tries: Mark Harris (2) Paul Sait (2) Bob Fulton John O'Neill Elwyn Walters Goals: Ray Branighan (5) |
* Stadium Municipal, Toulouse Attendance: 10,332 Referee: Mick Naughton
| France | Australia |
| FB | 1 | Roger Toujas |
| RW | 2 | Serge Marsolan |
| CE | 3 | Michel Moliner |
| CE | 4 | Andre Ruiz |
| LW | 5 | Jean-Marie Bonal |
| SO | 6 | Michael Mazare |
| SH | 7 | Marius Frattini |
| PR | 8 | Charles Zalduendo |
| HK | 9 | Jacques Franc |
| PR | 10 | Jacques Garzino |
| SR | 11 | Victor Serrano |
| SR | 12 | Francis de Nadai (c) |
| LF | 13 | Serge Gleyzes |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | Bernard Guilhem |
| IC | 15 | Michel Anglade |
| Coach: ||
| FB | 1 | Graeme Langlands (c) |
| RW | 2 | Ray Branighan |
| CE | 3 | Mark Harris |
| CE | 4 | Geoff Starling |
| LW | 5 | John Grant |
| FE | 6 | Bob Fulton |
| HB | 7 | Dennis Ward |
| PR | 8 | John O'Neill |
| HK | 9 | Elwyn Walters |
| PR | 10 | Bob O'Reilly |
| SR | 11 | Gary Stevens |
| SR | 12 | Arthur Beetson |
| LK | 13 | Paul Sait |
| Substitutions: ||
| IC | 14 | |
| IC | 15 | |
| Coach: ||
| Harry Bath ||
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.