1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
The 1978 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France comprised the Australia national rugby league team's fourteenth tour of Great Britain and ninth tour of France, and took place from September to December 1978. Coached by Frank Stanton and captained by Bob Fulton, the Australian team, also known as the Kangaroos, played a match against Wales before contesting the Ashes series against Great Britain, 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, ended later in the year 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 also declined to tour citing exhaustion after Manly's arduous finals campaign in 1978 where the Sea Eagles played 6 matched in 24 days, including the drawn Grand Final against Cronulla-Sutherland and the replay played just three days later. He later admitted regret in not touring.[7] One shock omission was Manly centre Russel Gartner who had played two games for Australia in the 1977 World Cup including the Final in which he scored a spectacular 65 metre solo try. 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.[8]
Craig Young was named 'player of the tour'.[9] Bob Fulton was the tourists' top try scorer with 9.[10] Michael Cronin was the tourists' top point scorer with 142.
Great Britain leg
Test Venues
The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
| Wigan | Bradford | Leeds |
|---|---|---|
| Central Park | Odsal | Headingley |
| Capacity: 35,000 | Capacity: 40,000 | Capacity: 30,000 |
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_001.JPG.webp) |
| Saturday, 30 September | Blackpool Borough  |
1 – 39 |  Australia |
Borough Park, Blackpool | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[11] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 2,700 |
| Sunday 1 October | Cumbria  |
4 – 47 | Australia |
Craven Park, Barrow | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[12] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 5,964 Referee: Stan Wall |
| Wednesday 4 October | Great Britain U/24  |
8 – 30 | Australia |
Craven Park, Hull | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[13] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 6,418 Referee: Fred Lindop |
| Sunday 8 October | Bradford Northern  |
11 – 21 | Australia |
Odsal, Bradford | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[14] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 15,755 |
| Wednesday 11 October | Warrington  |
15 – 12 | Australia |
Wilderspool, Warrington | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[15] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 10,143 |
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 since .[16]
Wales
The Kangaroos played a non-test international against Wales at the St. Helen's Ground. As of 2017 this was the 13th and final rugby league international played at the ground.
Sunday, 15 October |
Wales  |
3 – 8 | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Goals: David Watkins (1) Field Goals:: David Watkins |
[17] |
Tries: Bob Fulton Tommy Raudonikis Goals: Michael Cronin (1) |
       Wales
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     Australia
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Kangaroos' vice captain Greg Pierce injured his knee in this match and made no more appearances on the tour.[18]
| Tuesday 17 October | Leeds  |
19 – 25 | Australia |
Headingley, Leeds | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[19] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 9,781 |
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) |
[20] |
Tries: Kerry Boustead Bob Fulton Goals:: Mick Cronin (4) Field Goals:: Bob Fulton |
 Great Britain
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Australia
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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.
| Wednesday 25 October | Widnes  |
11 – 10 | Australia |
Naughton Park, Widnes | |
| 19:00 |
Tries: Stuart Wright Goals:: Mick Burke (4) |
[21] | Tries: Ian Schubert, Bruce Walker Goals: Michael Cronin (2) |
Attendance: 12,202 Referee: Ron Moore |
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. This was also the only time in what would be 15 tour games between 1909–1990 that Widnes would defeat The Kangaroos. Their previous best result was a 13–all draw on 21 October 1937 during the 1937–38 tour.
| Sunday 29 October | Hull F.C.  |
2 – 34 | Australia |
The Boulevard, Hull | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[22] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 10,723 |
| Wednesday 1 November | Salford  |
2 – 14 | Australia |
The Willows, Salford | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[23] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 6,155 |
2nd Ashes Test
Several changes were made to the Great Britain team, including a completely new front row. This match was broadcast live.[24]
Sunday 5 November |
| Great Britain |
18 – 14 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Stuart Wright (2) Goals: George Fairbairn (6) |
[25] |
Tries: Ray Price Steve Rogers Goals: Mick Cronin ( 2 ) Steve Rogers (2) |
Great Britain
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Australia
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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.[26]
| Wednesday 8 November | Wigan  |
2 – 28 | Australia |
Central Park, Wigan | |
| 19:30 |
Tries: Goals: George Fairbairn (1) |
[27] | Tries: Larry Corowa (2), Steve Rogers (2), Bruce Walker, Allan McMahon Goals: Michael Cronin (5) |
Attendance: 10,645 Referee: Peter Massey |
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.[28]
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.[29] 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.[30]
| Sunday 12 November | St. Helens  |
4 – 26 | Australia |
Knowsley Road, St. Helens | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[31] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 16,352 |
The game against St Helens saw the largest non-test attendance of the tour of 16,532.
| Tuesday 14 November | York  |
2 – 29 | Australia |
Clarence Street, York | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[32] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 5,155 |
3rd Ashes Test
Warrington's John Bevan came into the centres for Leeds star Les Dyl, while Hull F.C. prop Vince Farrar made his Great Britain debut in place of second test Man of the Match, Hull Kingston Rovers' forward Brian Lockwood who was unavailable due to injury. 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: |
[33] |
Tries: Les Boyd Geoff Gerard George Peponis Tom Raudonikis Goals: Mick Cronin (5/6) Field Goals: Bob Fulton (1) |
Great Britain
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Australia
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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.[34] Great Britain scored the first try of the second half when 31-year-old Roger Millward, captaining Great Britain for the last time,[35] 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.[36]
France leg
| Wednesday 22 November | Catalan XIII  |
15 – 26 | Australia |
Stade Gilbert Brutus, Perpignan | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[37] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 2,270 |
1st Test
Steve Martin was selected to make his Test debut.[38]
Sunday 26 November |
France  |
13 – 10 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Michel Naudo Goals: José Moya (5) |
[39] |
Tries: Michael Cronin Graham Eadie Goals: Michael Cronin (2) |
     France
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Australia
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France won the first Test 13–10 at Stade Albert Domec in Carcassonne.
| Wednesday 29 November | Côte d'Azur | 7 – 29 | Australia |
Parc des Sports, Avignon | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[40] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 645 |
| Sunday 3 December | Les Espoirs (Colts) | 20 – 5 | Australia |
Stade Municipal d'Albi, Albi | |
| Tries: Goals: |
[41] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 1,600 |
| Wednesday, 6 December | Midi-Pyrénées XIII  |
7 – 36 | Australia |
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| Tries: Goals: |
[42] | Tries: Goals: |
Attendance: 1,627 |
2nd Test
Sunday 10 December |
| France |
11 – 10 | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Tries: Michel Naudo Goals: José Moya (3) Field Goals: Jean-Marc Bourret (1) Éric Waligunda (1) |
[43] |
Tries: Kerry Boustead Steve Rogers Goals: Michael Cronin (2) |
   France
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Australia
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The referee was Mr Laverny from Bordeaux. France were coached by Roger Garrigue. Their line-up included world class players, lock, Joël Roosebrouck[44] 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.[45] 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.[46] This would be the last time the Kangaroos failed to win a series or tournament until the 2005 Tri-Nations.[47]
Statistics
Leading Try Scorer
- 9 by Bob Fulton
Leading Point Scorer
- 142 by Michael Cronin
Largest Attendance
- 30,604 - Third test vs Great Britain at Headingley Stadium
Largest Club Game Attendance
- 16,352 - St. Helens vs Australia at Knowsley Road
References
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- "Frank Stanton". Sport Australia Hall of Fame. sahof.org.au. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- Annual Report (PDF). Australia: Australian Rugby Football League. 2008. p. 57.
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- "Bruce Walker". yesterdayshero.com.au. SmartPack International. Archived from the original on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- "Interview with Terry Randall » League Unlimited". League Unlimited. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
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- 1st Ashes Test
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- 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.
- 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.
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- 3rd Ashes Test
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- "Should he stay or should he go?". The Guardian. 13 January 2004. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- Baker, Andrew (20 August 1995). "100 years of rugby league: From the great divide to the Super era". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- "Catalan XIII vs Australia". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- wagga.nsw.gov.au. "Steve Martin". Sporting Hall of Fame. Museum of the Riverina. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- 1st Test - France vs Australia
- "Cote d'Azur vs Australia". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- "Les Espoirs vs Australia". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- "Midi-Pyrénées vs Australia". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- 2nd Test - France vs Australia
- "FLASHBACK: December 1978". stevericketts.com.au. Steve Ricketts. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
- Whiticker, Alan. "Ron Hilditch". rugbyleagueproject.org. Shawn Dollin, Andrew Ferguson and Bill Bates. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- Koch, Dan (17 November 2006). "Britain to face Roos backlash". The Australian. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
- "On this day". ESPN. 10 December 1978. Retrieved 9 February 2014.
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