1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France

The 1978 Kangaroo tour comprised the Australia national rugby league team's 14th tour of Great Britain and 9th tour of France, and took place from September to December 1978. In Britain the Kangaroos played a match against Wales before contesting the Ashes series against the Great Britain Lions, winning the third and deciding Test match.[1] The tourists then moved on to France where they were narrowly beaten in both Tests, the last series the Kangaroos would lose until 2005.[2] In addition to these six internationals, the Australians played sixteen other matches against local club and representative sides in both countries. The 1978 Kangaroo tour followed the tour of 1973 while the next tour would be staged in 1982.

Background

The 1978 Kangaroo tour was the first since 1973 and took place in the wake of Australia's rugby league season. Sydney's 1978 NSWRFL season, which contributed the vast majority of the tourists, went longer than usual as it involved a grand final replay. For the English the tour was conducted during the first half of the 1978–79 Northern Rugby Football League season.

Touring squad

The Australian team's coach was Frank Stanton, who had already taken the City, New South Wales and the Manly-Warringah teams to victory in all of their respective competitions that year.[3] Eastern Suburbs's captain (and former Manly premiership captain under Stanton in 1976) Bob Fulton, was selected to be the touring Australian side's skipper while Cronulla back rower Greg Pierce was named as vice-captain.[4] Manly-Warringah Grand Final winner John Harvey created some controversy when he declined selection for the tour due to personal reasons.[5] As a result, his Manly-Warringah teammate Bruce Walker was called in as a replacement.[6] Another Manly premiership winner Terry Randall, who had required pain killing injections just to take the field in Manly's tough finals campaign which saw them play 6 games in 24 games (2 of them, including the Grand Final against Cronulla, were replays played only 3 days after drawn games), also declined to tour citing exhaustion, though he later admitted regret in not touring. One shock omission was Manly centre Russel Gartner who had played two games for Australia in the 1977 World Cup. Gartner, a speedy outside back who could play either centre or wing, had scored two tries in the Grand Final replay, one a 70-metre effort where he easily outpaced the Cronulla defence despite having torn his hamstring a week earlier, was considered unlucky not to tour.

Of the 28 man squad, only three Queensland based players were chosen - Souths Innisfail winger Kerry Boustead, Brisbane Easts prop forward Rod Morris and Redcliffe halfback Greg Oliphant. The only other Queenslanders in the squad were St George back rower Rod Reddy and Manly forward Bruce Walker.

The tour manager was Canterbury-Bankstown Chief Executive Peter "Bullfrog" Moore, with Jim Caldwell as the co-manager.[7]

Craig Young was named 'player of the tour'.[8] Bob Fulton was the tourists' top try scorer with 9.[9] Michael Cronin was the tourists' top point scorer with 142.

Name Position Club Date of birth Tests
Anderson, ChrisChris Anderson wing Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2 May 1952 5
Boustead, KerryKerry Boustead wing Souths (Innisfail) 12 August 1959 5
Boyd, LesLes Boyd second-row, prop Western Suburbs Magpies 17 November 1956 3
Corowa, LarryLarry Corowa wing Balmain Tigers 5 August 1957 0
Cronin, MichaelMichael Cronin centre Parramatta Eels 28 June 1951 5
Eadie, GrahamGraham Eadie fullback Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 25 November 1953 5
Fulton, BobBob Fulton (c)five-eighth, centre Eastern Suburbs Roosters 1 December 1947 5
Gerard, GeoffGeoff Gerard prop, second-row Parramatta Eels 10 July 1955 5
Gibbs, JohnJohn Gibbs halfbackManly-Warringah Sea Eagles16 May 19560
Hilditch, RonRon Hilditch hooker Parramatta Eels 13 August 1953 1
Kneen, SteveSteve Kneen second-row Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 4 June 1953 0
Krilich, MaxMax Krilich hooker Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 25 October 1950 2
Martin, SteveSteve Martin halfback Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 7 January 1957 1
McMahon, AllanAllan McMahon fullback, centre, wing Balmain Tigers 9 August 1954 0
Morris, RodRod Morris prop Eastern Suburbs Tigers 12 June 1950 2
Oliphant, GregGreg Oliphant halfback Redcliffe Dolphins 22 June 1950 0
Olling, GraemeGraeme Olling prop Parramatta Eels 19 July 1948 3
Peponis, GeorgeGeorge Peponis hooker Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 3 September 1953 2
Pierce, GregGreg Pierce (vc)second-row, lockCronulla-Sutherland Sharks 4 March 19500
Price, RayRay Price lock Parramatta Eels 4 March 1953 5
Raudonikis, TomTom Raudonikis halfback Western Suburbs Magpies 13 April 1950 5
Reddy, RodRod Reddy second-row, lock St. George Dragons 1 March 1954 3
Rogers, SteveSteve Rogers centre Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24 November 1954 4
Schubert, IanIan Schubert fullback, wing Eastern Suburbs Roosters 22 August 1956 0
Thompson, AlanAlan Thompson five-eighth Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 10 October 1953 3
Thomson, IanIan Thomson prop Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16 May 1956 2
Walker, BruceBruce Walker prop, second-row Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 8 June 1952 0
Young, CraigCraig Young prop St. George Dragons 25 June 1956 5

Great Britain leg





A controversial late Alan Gwilliam try gave Warrington a 15–12 win over Australia, with Steve Hesford kicking six goals. In the tourists' first lost match of the tour Warrington's packmen Tommy Martyn, Mike Nicholas, Tommy Cunningham and Roy Lester were in superb form, ably supported by replacement half backs Gwilliam and Clark. This was Warrington's eighth win over Australia.[10]


Wales

The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at the St. Helen's Rugby and Cricket Ground. As of 2016 this was the 13th and final rugby league international played at the ground.

Sunday, 15 October
Wales  3 – 8  Australia
Tries:


Goals:
David Watkins (1)
Field goal:
David Watkins
Tries:
Bob Fulton
Tom Raudonikis
Goals:
Mick Cronin (1)
St Helens Rugby Ground, Swansea
Attendance: 4,250
Referee/s: Ron Campbell
Wales Posit. Australia
David Watkins (c)FBGraham Eadie
Clive SullivanWGIan Schubert
David WillicombeCEMick Cronin
Eddie CunninghamCESteve Rogers
John BevanWGKerry Boustead
Bill FrancisSOBob Fulton (c)
Paul WoodsSHTom Raudonikis
Jim MillsPRGraeme Olling
Tony FisherHKGeorge Peponis
Mel JamesPRIan Thomson
Glyn ShawSRGreg Pierce
Trevor SkerrettSRRod Reddy
Roy MathiasLFRay Price
Res.Craig Young
Res.Alan Thompson
Kel CoslettCoachFrank Stanton

Kangaroos' vice captain Greg Pierce injured his knee in this match and made no more appearances on the tour.[11]



1st Ashes Test

This year Great Britain had the opportunity to re-gain the Ashes title on home soil. The Ashes series was styled the "Forward Chemicals Test series" due to sponsorship reasons.

Saturday, 21 October
Great Britain  9 – 15  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan

Goals:
George Fairbairn (3)
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Bob Fulton
Goals:
Mick Cronin (4)
Field goal:
Bob Fulton
Central Park, Wigan
Attendance: 17,644
Referee/s: Ron Campbell United Kingdom
Man of the Match: Rod Reddy
Great Britain Posit. Australia
George FairbairnFBGraham Eadie
Stuart WrightWGKerry Boustead
Eric HughesCESteve Rogers
Eddie CunninghamCEMick Cronin
John BevanWGChris Anderson
Roger Millward (c)SOBob Fulton (c)
Steve NashSHTom Raudonikis
Jimmy ThompsonPRGraeme Olling
David WardHKMax Krilich
Paul RosePRCraig Young
George NichollsSRGeoff Gerard
Len CaseySRRod Reddy
Steve NortonLFRay Price
John HolmesRes.Steve Kneen
Phil HoganRes.
Peter FoxCoachFrank Stanton

Great Britain were trailing 6-7 with fifteen minutes remaining when an Australian pass went to ground and Welsh winger John Bevan kicked the ball ahead. It was then a foot race between him and Australian fullback Graham Eadie to reach the ball which was slowing within Australia's in-goal area. Both players stumbled and dived, with Bevan getting a hand on the ball and claiming the try which was awarded, giving the home side a 9-7 lead. The Kangaroos then worked their way up to the other end of the field and moved the ball through the hands out to the right wing where Kerry Boustead crossed for a try, regaining his side the lead 9-10. In the final minutes Australian captain Bob Fulton forced his way over for a try which was also converted, so the match ended with the scoreline at 9-15.


Widnes: David Eckersley, Stuart Wright, Malcolm Aspey, Mick George, Mick Burke, Eric Hughes, Reg Bowden, Brian Hogan, Keith Elwell, Jim Mills, Mick Adams, David Hull, Doug Laughton (c). Coach - Doug Laughton

Australia: Allan McMahon, Ian Schubert, Michael Cronin (c), Alan Thompson, Chris Anderson, Steve Martin, Greg Oliphant, Rod Morris, Ron Hilditch, Ian Thomson, Geoff Gerard, Steve Kneen, Ray Price. Res - Bob Fulton, Bruce Walker

Widnes, the reigning British champions, were leading 7 – 2 half time. Up to and including the last Kangaroo tour in which Australia played English club teams as part of their schedule in 1994, this was the last game the Kangaroos lost to an English club side.




2nd Ashes Test

Several changes were made to the Great Britain team, including a completely new front row. This match was broadcast live.[12]

Sunday, 5 November
Great Britain  18 – 14  Australia
Tries:
Stuart Wright (2)

Goals:
George Fairbairn (6)
Tries:
Ray Price
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Steve Rogers (4)
Odsal Stadium, Bradford
Attendance: 26,761
Referee/s: Mick Naughton United Kingdom
Man of the Match: Brian Lockwood
Great Britain Posit. Australia
George FairbairnFBGraham Eadie
Stuart WrightWGKerry Boustead
John JoynerCESteve Rogers
Les DylCEMick Cronin
John AtkinsonWGChris Anderson
Roger Millward (c)SOBob Fulton (c)
Steve NashSHTom Raudonikis
Jim MillsPRGraeme Olling
Tony FisherHKMax Krilic
Brian LockwoodPRCraig Young
George NichollsSRGeoff Gerard
Phil LoweSRRod Reddy
Steve NortonLFRay Price
John HolmesRes.Alan Thompson
Paul RoseRes.Les Boyd
Peter FoxCoachFrank Stanton

In the final minutes of the first half the British had just made their way into Australia's half of the field when they made a break up the middle through Roger Millward. He then kicked the ball ahead as he was being tackled and his winger Stuart Wright was chasing through to get a hand on it and score. The try was converted so the home side led at the break 11 – 4.

In the second half Britain's right centre John Joyner made a break and popped a pass over to his winger Stuart Wright to cross once again. They won the match 18–14 to bring the series to 1-all.

This would be the last time Great Britain beat Australia in a Test match for another ten years.[13]


Wigan: George Fairbairn, Dennis Ramsdale, David Willicombe, Alan Greenall, Jimmy Hornby, Keiron O'Loughlin, Bernard Coyle, John Wood, Tony Karalius, Steve O'Neill, John Foran, Bill Melling, Dennis Boyd. Res - Malcolm Swann, David Regan. Coach - Vince Karalius

Australia: Allan McMahon, Larry Corowa, Steve Rogers, Michael Cronin, Ian Schubert, Alan Thompson, Steve Martin, Ian Thomson, Ron Hilditch, Rod Morris, Geoff Gerard, Les Boyd, Bruce Walker

At half time Wigan trailed Australia 2 – 5.[14]


In a Leeds bar, a member of Surrey rock band The Jam, Paul Weller, glassed the face of Jim Caldwell, the team manager from Queensland.[15] Australian player Larry Corowa ran to defend the bloodied Caldwell, was punched from behind himself and raced into a nearby bar to get teammates to provide reinforcements for the brawl that ensued. One member of The Jam landed in hospital with broken ribs and another was reported at the time to have been charged with assault. The official police statement cleared the Australians of any wrongdoing.[16]

The game against St Helens saw the largest non-test attendance of the tour of 16,532.



3rd Ashes Test

Warrington's John Bevan came into the centres for Leeds star Les Dyl, while Hull prop Vince Farrar made his Great Britain debut in place of Hull Kingston Rovers' Brian Lockwood. The Kangaroos maintained the same backline from the 2nd Test, but brought George Peponis, Rod Morris and Les Boyd into their forward pack.

Saturday, 18 November
15:00
Great Britain  6 – 23  Australia
Tries:
John Bevan
Roger Millward


Goals:
Tries:
Les Boyd
Geoff Gerard
George Peponis
Tom Raudonikis
Goals::
Mick Cronin (5/6)
Field Goal:
Bob Fulton
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 30,604
Referee/s: Mick Naughton United Kingdom
Man of the Match: Tom Raudonikis
Great Britain Posit. Australia
George FairbairnFBGraham Eadie
Stuart WrightWGKerry Boustead
John JoynerCESteve Rogers
John BevanCEMichael Cronin
John AtkinsonWGChris Anderson
Roger Millward (c)SOBob Fulton (c)
Steve NashSHTom Raudonikis
Jim MillsPRCraig Young
Tony FisherHKGeorge Peponis
Vince FarrarPRRod Morris
George NichollsSRGeoff Gerard
Phil LoweSRLes Boyd
Steve NortonLFRay Price
John HolmesRes.Alan Thompson
Paul RoseRes.Ian Thomson
Peter FoxCoachFrank Stanton

The deciding test attracted the largest attendance of any match on the tour. After two penalty goals by Mick Cronin Australia led by 4 points to nil. The Kangaroos then got the first try of the match with a close-range dive from George Peponis at dummy-half. The conversion by Cronin was successful so Australia led 9 – 0. The visitors scored another try when the ball was passed from dummy-half to a steamrolling Les Boyd who raced through to score under the goal posts, bringing the lead to 12 – 0. Later, after making a break and crossing the half-way line Raudonikis passed to Geoff Gerard who ran the remaining metres to score untouched, making the score 17 – 0.

Australian fullback Graham Eadie crossed early in the second half but the try was controversially disallowed for a forward pass. Bob Fulton took the Australians' lead out to 20–0 with a drop-goal early in the second half.[17] Great Britain scored the first try of the second half when 31-year-old Roger Millward, captaining Great Britain for the last time,[18] reached out of a tackle and bounced the ball off the turf of the Australian in-goal area. The home side scored again when they moved the ball through the hands out to the left wing where Bevan dived over in the corner. The Kangaroos scored next when Raudonikis, directly from a scrum win, ran through and put the ball down.

Australia therefore retained the Ashes with the first of a fourteen-year winning streak between these two sides that would last until 1988.[19]

France leg


1st Test

Steve Martin was selected to make his Test debut.[20]

Sunday, 26 November
France  13 – 10  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
Jose Moya (5)
Tries:
Michael Cronin
Graham Eadie
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stade d'Albert Domec, Carcassonne
Attendance: 7,000
Referee/s: Andre Breysse France
France Posit. Australia
Francis TranierFBGraham Eadie
Jose MoyaWGKerry Boustead
Christian LaumondCEMichael Cronin
Michel NaudoCESteve Martin
Gerard BorreilWGChris Anderson
Eric WaligundaSOBob Fulton (c)
Ivan GrésèqueSHTom Raudonikis
Henri DanielPRCraig Young
Andre MalacampHKGeorge Peponis
Delphin CastanonPRRod Morris
Didier HermetSRGeoff Gerard
Charles ZalduendoSRLes Boyd
Michel Maique (c)LFRay Price
Roger Garrigue CoachFrank Stanton

France won the first Test 13–10 at Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne.





2nd Test

10 December
France  11 – 10  Australia
Tries:
Michel Naudo

Goals:
Jose Moya (3)
Field goals:
Gerard Borreil
Eric Waligunda
Tries:
Kerry Boustead
Steve Rogers
Goals:
Michael Cronin (2)
Stade Municipal, Toulouse
Attendance: 6,500
Referee/s: P Laverny France
France Posit. Australia
Francis TranierFBGraham Eadie
Jose MoyaWGKerry Boustead
Christian LaumondCESteve Rogers
Michel NaudoCEMichael Cronin
Gerard BorreilWGChris Anderson
Eric WaligundaSOBob Fulton (c)
Jean-Louis CastelSHTom Raudonikis
Henri DanielPRIan Thomson
Andre MalacampHKRon Hilditch
Delphin CastanonPRCraig Young
Didier HermetSRGeoff Gerard
Charles ZalduendoSRRod Reddy
Michel Maique (c)LFRay Price
Jean-Marc BourretRes.Graeme Olling
Res.Alan Thompson
Roger GarrigueCoachFrank Stanton

The referee was Mr Laverny from Bordeaux. France were coached by Roger Garrigue. Their line-up included world class players, lock, Joel Roosebrouck[21] and prop, Didier Hermet from Villeneuve-Sur-Lot, and Jean Marc Bourret in the centres. Ron Hilditch played at hooker in place of Max Krilich who was injured.[22] France claimed a 2–0 series win over the touring Kangaroos with an 11–10 result at the Stade Municipal, Toulouse in front of 6,500 spectators.

France thus became the last team to record successive victories against Australia in a single series.[23] This would be the last time the Kangaroos failed to win a series or tournament until the 2005 Tri-Nations.[24]

Statistics

Leading Try Scorer

Leading Point Scorer

Largest Attendance

Largest Club Game Attendance

References

  1. news.bbc.co.uk. "Australia v Great Britain: the history". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  2. AFP (27 November 2005). "Kiwis crush Kangaroos in Tri-Nations final". ABC News. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  3. "Frank Stanton". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. sahof.org.au. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  4. Annual Report (PDF). Australia: Australian Rugby Football League. 2008. p. 57.
  5. Tony Adams. "Legend Q&A". Rugby League Week (Sydney, NSW: PBLMedia) (4 July 2007): 22–23.
  6. "Bruce Walker". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  7. Clarkson, Alan (14 November 1978). "Kangaroos Brawl with Punk Group". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  8. "Craig Young". Legends. jubileeavenue.com.au. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  9. Whiticker, Alan. "Bob Fulton". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  10. "Changing Times – 1970 to 1995". warringtonwolves.org. Warrington Wolves. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  11. Whiticker, Alan. "Greg Pierce". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  12. "Kangaroos will play in London on 1982 tour". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 November 1981. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  13. "Ashes battles of the past". news.bbc.co.uk. BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  14. "8th November 1978: Wigan 2 Australia 28". Cherry & White. wigan.rlfans.com. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  15. Malone, Paul (13 November 2013). "Recent Billy Slater and Josh Papalii incidents far from the tip of the iceberg for Kangaroos". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  16. Walshaw, Nick (19 October 2013). "Josh Papalii robbing just the latest in long list of tour mishaps for Kangaroos in UK". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  17. de la Riviere, Richard (18 November 1978). "On this day". totalrl.com. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  18. "Should he stay or should he go?". The Guardian. 13 January 2004. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  19. Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". The Independent. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  20. wagga.nsw.gov.au. "Steve Martin". Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  21. "FLASHBACK: December 1978". stevericketts.com.au. Steve Ricketts. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  22. Whiticker, Alan. "Ron Hilditch". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  23. Koch, Dan (17 November 2006). "Britain to face Roos backlash". The Australian. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
  24. "On this day". ESPN. 10 December 1978. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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