RUGBY LEAGUE Kangaroos hit form to beat Frenchmen

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33067, 7 November 1972, Page 40

RUGBY LEAGUE Kangaroos hit form to beat Frenchmen

CN.Z. Presi Asiociation—Copyright) TOULOUSE (France). Australia produced the kind of football that could win it a third successive Rugby league World Cup next week-end. when it beat France, 31-9.

After sputtering: and stumbling during the last week, the team hit magnificent form before 15,000 ardent Frenchmen on a cold grey day here.

But it was the Frenchmen —a moderately strong side with some outstanding, speedy backs—who w r ere left out in the cold.

The Kangaroos, who led 10-4 at half time, scored seven tries — five of them converted — to one converted try and two penalties. The winners of the World Cup in 1968 and 1970 had lost their first preliminary match last week to Britain, and then struggled to beat New Zealand. France had also beaten New Zealand and, with Britain already in the final with three victories, Australia had to win to get a shot at the cup at Lyons on Saturday. Although there was little in it, Australia had the better of the first half, scoring a converted try after five minutes when the five-eighth, R. Fulton, put up a high kick over the French line which was pounced on by M. Harris, and just before half time another five points came when P. Sait went over under the posts. The Kangeroos might have

■gone to the break further Jahead. In a bewildering (sequence of events, the English referee, Mr M. NaughIton awarded a try after the (wing, R. Branigham, went over wide out; confirmed it, and then, after a three minute discussion, reversed the decision. Immediately on the resumption the forward drive up the centre began to gain extra yards; previously spilled passes began to stick in Australian hands, and the French attackers found themselves getting less and less leeway. After three minutes, in a try almost identical to the first, the half-back, D. Ward, put a high kick behind the French posts and Fulton

(scored. Then the prop. J. ! O'Neill, went over under the I posts. FINE DEBUT ■ Harris, who had a great first game for Australia playling in his club position of centre, capped a long run by [barging through three | tacklers to the French line I The hooker, E. A. Walters, [joined the try-scorers, diving .through a knot of defenders from a tackle five yards out, land finally Sait sliced through [from 30 yards to score a (great try after coming into a (backline movement. [ The only compensation for ' most of the crowd was a last- | minute try to the French centre, A. Ruiz, after a movement which covered fully 75 [yards. I With the form they showed today the Kangaroos can look forward much more confidently to the re-match with Britain next Saturday. A week ago, when they met in Perpignan, the Australians allowed themselves to be bustled by the hard-tackling Englishmen and lost all their combination, while the British players were allowed too much latitude by weak tackling. Those faults appeared to have been nearly overcome, and with another week to prepare and the strong forward, R. J. McCarthy, certain to be back for Saturday’s game, Australia has every chance to take the cup.