France 9–31 Australia — World Cup Table, 1972 Rugby League World Cup
5 Nov 1972 · Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, France · Attendance: N/A
Data last verified: 11 August 2026.
World Cup Table, 1972 Rugby League World Cup: France 9–31 Australia, at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, France on 5 Nov 1972.
Scorers
| France | Tries: Ruiz Goals: Bonal (3) |
| Australia | Tries: Harris (2); Sait (2); Fulton; O'Neill; Walters Goals: Branighan (5) |
Teams
| France | Australia | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roger Toujas | Fullback | Graeme Langlands (c) | 1 |
| 2 | Serge Marsolan | Wing | Ray Branighan | 2 |
| 3 | Michael Molinier | Centre | Mark Harris | 3 |
| 4 | André Ruiz | Centre | Geoff Starling | 4 |
| 5 | Jean-Marie Bonal | Wing | John Grant | 5 |
| 6 | Michael Mazare | Stand off/Five eighth | Bob Fulton | 6 |
| 7 | Marius Frattini | Scrum half/Half back | Dennis Ward | 7 |
| 8 | Charles Zalduendo | Prop forward | John O'Neill | 8 |
| 9 | Jacques Franc | Hooker | Elwyn Walters | 9 |
| 10 | Jacques Garzino | Prop forward | Bob O'Reilly | 10 |
| 11 | Victor Serrano | Second row | Gary Stevens | 11 |
| 12 | Francis de Nadaï (c) | Second row | Arthur Beetson | 12 |
| 13 | Serge Gleyzes | Loose forward/Lock forward | Paul Sait | 13 |
| Substitutes | ||||
| 14 | Bernard Guilhelm | |||
| 15 | Michel Anglade | |||
| — not identified in sources found | Coach | Harry Bath | ||
Match officials
| Referee | Mick Naughton — nationality not explicitly confirmed in sources found (career record suggests Australian) |
| Player of the match | — not identified in sources found |
Match report
Played at Stadium Municipal, Toulouse, in the tournament's sixth and final pool round. France led 5-4 at halftime but Australia pulled away decisively in the second half, running in seven tries to one to win 31-9. Mark Harris and Paul Sait each scored two tries for the Kangaroos, with Bob Fulton, John O'Neill and hooker Elwyn Walters also crossing; Ray Branighan landed five goals.
France's lone try came from centre André Ruiz, with Jean-Marie Bonal kicking three goals. The result all but ended France's realistic hopes of the title on home soil, while Australia's big win kept them in title contention heading into the final round -- Australia went on to draw 10-10 with Great Britain in the final at Lyon and lose the title on points-table placing.
Previous World Cup meetings
- 1954 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 15–5 Australia
- 1957 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 26–9 France
- 1960 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 13–12 France
- 1968 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 37–4 France
- 1968 Rugby League World Cup (Final): Australia 20–2 France
- 1970 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 15–17 France
- 1975 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 26–6 France
- 1975 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 2–41 Australia
- 1977 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 21–9 France
- 1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 0–52 Australia
- 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): Australia 34–2 France
- 1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup (World Cup Table): France 10–34 Australia
- 2017 Rugby League World Cup (Group A): Australia 52–6 France