| 1968 World Cup | |
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| Number of teams | 4 |
| Host countries | Australia New Zealand |
| Winner | Australia (2nd title) |
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| Matches played | 7 |
| Attendance | 220,683 (31,526 per match) |
| Points scored | 227 (32.43 per match) |
| Top scorer | Eric Simms (56) |
| Top try scorers | Lionel Williamson (4) Ron Coote (4) Clive Sullivan (4) |
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< 1960
1970 >
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The fourth Rugby League World Cup was held in Australia and New Zealand in 1968. For the first time a world cup final was specifically pre-arranged (previous finals having only been used when teams were level on points). The group match between Great Britain and Australia attracted an attendance of 62,256, the highest for a rugby league World Cup match until 1992.[1] The final was held at Sydney Cricket Ground; a crowd of 54,290 watched Australia defeat France.[1] The stars of a superb Australian team in the tournament were skipper Johnny Raper, second-rower Ron Coote, who scored spectacular tries in each and every game, and the dead-shot kicker Eric Simms, who harvested a record 25 goals (50 points).
The 1968 World Cup was the first to be played under limited tackles rules, the four-tackle rule applying. Financially it was a profitable venture for the competing nations.
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| 25 May |
New Zealand | 10–15 | France | Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Col Pearce (AUS) |
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France: J Cros; D Pellerin, M Molinier, J Lecompte, A Ferren; Jean Capdouze, R Garrigues; G Ailleres (c), Y Begou, C Sabatie, Francis de Nadai, Henri Marracq, J Clar.
New Zealand: R Tait; R Mincham, H Sinel, P Schultz, E Wiggs; J Bond (c), J Clarke; O Danielson, Colin O'Neil, George Smith, B Lee, J Dixon, A Kriletich; Henry Tatana.
After only twelve minutes, New Zealand second-rower Brian Lee was sent off in a match in which the classy French stand-off Jean Capdouze bagged 13 points. The game was also notable for the first World Cup substitution when Adolphe Alesina replaced second-rower Francis De Nadai.
| 25 May |
Australia | 25–10 | Great Britain | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 62,256[1] Referee: John Percival |
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A record World Cup crowd of 62,256 saw New Zealand referee John Percival mercilessly penalising Great Britain, with debutant full-back Eric Simms booting a record eight goals in Australia's win.
| 1 June |
Australia | 31–12 | New Zealand | Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 23,608 |
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Simms repeated the feat of kicking eight goals as he had in the previous match as Australia eventually killed off New Zealand at Brisbane after trailing for much of the game.
| 2 June |
France | 7–2 | Great Britain | Carlaw Park, Auckland Attendance: 15,760 |
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France surprised Britain in a rain-ruined match at Auckland with an uncharacteristically stubborn defensive display and winger Jean Ledru, scoring the winning try to qualify for a World Cup Final showdown against Australia.
| 8 June |
Australia | 37–4 | France | Lang Park, Brisbane Attendance: 32,664 |
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In the final preliminary game in Brisbane, Australia's scrum-half back Billy Smith dropped three goals. French winger Jean Ledru and Australia's prop Artie Beetson were both sent off.
| 8 June |
Great Britain | 38–14 | New Zealand | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 14,105 |
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| Team | Played | Won | Drew | Lost | For | Against | Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 93 | 26 | +67 | 6 |
| France | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 49 | −23 | 4 |
| Great Britain | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 2 |
| New Zealand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 36 | 84 | −48 | 0 |
The final had been billed a 'debacle' following Great Britain's inexplicable loss to France in Auckland, leaving them to contest the final despite being beaten by Australia seven tries to none two days prior.[2]
| 10 June |
Australia | 20–2 | France | Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Attendance: 54,290[3] Referee: John Percival (New Zealand) |
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| Try: Williamson (2) Coote Greaves Goal: Simms (4) |
Report | Goal: Capdouze |
| Australia | [4] Position |
France |
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| Eric Simms | FB | Jean Claude Cros |
| Johnny Rhodes | WG | Daniel Pélerin |
| Graeme Langlands | CE | Jacques Gruppi |
| Johnny Greaves | CE | Jean Pierre Lecompte |
| Lionel Williamson | WG | Jean Ledru |
| Bob Fulton | SO | Jean Capdouze |
| Billy Smith | SH | Roger Garrigues |
| John Wittenberg | PR | Christian Sabatie |
| Fred Jones | HK | Yves Begou |
| Arthur Beetson | PR | George Ailleres (c) |
| Dick Thornett | SR | Francis de Nadai |
| Ron Coote | SR | Henri Marracq |
| Johnny Raper (c) | LF | Jean Pierre Clar |
| Harry Bath | Coach |
France offered stern resistance and held the Australians to 0-7 at half-time and with quarter of an hour were only 0-12 down before losing 2-20 before a crowd of 54,290.
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