France 7–2 Great Britain — World Cup Table, 1968 Rugby League World Cup
2 Jun 1968 · Carlaw Park, Auckland, New Zealand · Attendance: 15,760
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
World Cup Table, 1968 Rugby League World Cup: France 7–2 Great Britain, at Carlaw Park, Auckland, New Zealand on 2 Jun 1968.
Scorers
| France | Tries: Ledru Goals: Garrigue Drop goals: Garrigue |
| Great Britain | Goals: Risman |
Teams
| France | Great Britain | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jean-Claude Cros | Fullback | Bev Risman (Captain) | 1 |
| 2 | Daniel Pellerin | Wing | Clive Sullivan | 2 |
| 3 | Michel Molinier | Centre | Ian Brooke | 3 |
| 4 | Jean-Pierre Lecompte | Centre | Alan Burwell | 4 |
| 5 | Jean Ledru | Wing | John Atkinson | 5 |
| 6 | Jean Capdouze | Five-eighth | Roger Millward | 6 |
| 7 | Roger Garrigue | Halfback | Tommy Bishop | 7 |
| 8 | Christian Sabatie | Prop | Mick Clark | 8 |
| 9 | Yves Begou | Hooker | Peter Flanagan | 9 |
| 10 | Georges Ailleres (Captain) | Prop | Cliff Watson | 10 |
| 11 | Henri Marracq | Second Row | Arnold Morgan | 11 |
| 12 | Herve Mazard | Second Row | Robert Haigh | 12 |
| 13 | Jean-Pierre Clar | Lock | Charlie Renilson | 13 |
| Substitutes | ||||
| John Warlow | 14 | |||
| Andre Lacoste | Coach | Colin Hutton | ||
Match officials
| Referee | Col Pearce (Sydney) |
| Touch judges | — not identified in sources found |
| Player of the match | — not identified in sources found |
Match report
By the time France met Great Britain at Carlaw Park on 2 June 1968, the pool table was already taking shape: Australia had beaten Great Britain 25-10, and France had beaten New Zealand 15-10, both at the tournament's opening round. Great Britain, who had toured under the 'Lions World Cup Tour' banner, were expected to beat a France side considered the weaker of the two, but the match was played in wet conditions and became a tight defensive contest. Great Britain, considered strong favourites, were held scoreless in attacking terms and led only 2-0 at half-time via a Bev Risman goal. France mounted a stubborn defensive display, frustrating the highly rated British backline throughout. The decisive score came from French winger Jean Ledru, whose try — his side's only try of the match — swung the contest France's way. Roger Garrigue supplied the remaining points from the boot. Great Britain could not add to Risman's early goal, and France held on for a 7-2 victory that was regarded at the time as a significant upset. The result proved pivotal to the shape of the tournament: it meant France remained in genuine contention for a place in the World Cup Final, while Great Britain suffered a damaging loss of table points early in the competition. France finished the round-robin phase second on the ladder behind an unbeaten Australia, and as a result qualified to meet Australia in the World Cup Final at the SCG on 10 June 1968 — a match France lost 20-2. Great Britain finished third, their campaign undone in large part by this Carlaw Park reverse to France.
Sourcing caveat: Research this session confirmed that international rugby league field goals were worth 2 points (not 1) until a rule change in 1973. Under the correct 1968 scoring (try=3, goal=2, field goal=2), France's scorers reconcile exactly: 1 try + 1 goal + 1 field goal = 3+2+2 = 7.
Previous World Cup meetings
- 1954 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 13–13 Great Britain
- 1954 Rugby League World Cup (Final): Great Britain 16–12 France
- 1957 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 5–23 Great Britain
- 1960 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Great Britain 33–7 France
- 1970 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Great Britain 6–0 France
- 1972 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 4–13 Great Britain
- 1977 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 4–23 Great Britain
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 10–10 Great Britain
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Great Britain 52–4 France
- 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 10–45 Great Britain
- 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Great Britain 36–0 France