1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France
1956–57 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Manager | Clarrie Fahy Cyril Connell Sr. | ||||
Tour captain(s) | Ken Kearney | ||||
Top point scorer(s) | Gordon Clifford 94 | ||||
Top try scorer(s) | Ian Moir 13 | ||||
Top test point scorer(s) | Gordon Clifford 22 | ||||
Top test try scorer(s) | Keith Holman 4 | ||||
Summary |
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Total |
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Test match |
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Opponent |
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Great Britain |
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France |
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Tour chronology | |||||
Previous tour | 1952–53 | ||||
Next tour | 1959–60 |
The 1956–57 Kangaroo tour was the ninth Kangaroo tour, in which the Australian national rugby league team travelled to Great Britain and France and played twenty-eight matches, including the Ashes series of three Test matches against Great Britain and three Test matches against the French. It followed the tour of 1952–53 and the next was staged in 1959–60.
The squad's leadership
[edit]The team was captained by Ken Kearney with Clive Churchill as vice-captain. Tour co-managers were Clarrie Fahy and Cyril Connell Sr. The latter's son, Cyril Connell Jr. was a playing member of the touring party.[1]
In the three matches in which neither Kearney nor Churchill played, the Kangaroos were captained by Cyril Connell Jr.
Touring squad
[edit]The Rugby League News published a photo and details of the touring team including the players' ages and weights.[2] Various newspapers published the names of the touring squad when it was selected in September 1956.[1]
Match details - listing surnames of both teams and the point scorers - were included in E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook, as was a summary of the players' point-scoring.[3]
Banks, Connell, Davies, Doyle, Flannery, Furner, McGovern, Payne, Tyquin and Watson were selected from Queensland clubs. Adams and Marsh were selected from clubs in New South Wales Country areas. The balance of the squad had played for Sydney-based clubs during the 1956 season.
Player | Position | Age | Weight | Club | Tests on Tour |
Games | Tries | Goals | FG | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clive Churchill | Fullback | 29 | 11.0 (70) | South Sydney | 2 | 15 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 26 |
Gordon Clifford | Fullback | 26 | 12.0 (76) | Newtown | 4 | 12 | 2 | 43 | 1 | 94 |
Denis Flannery | Wing | 27 | 12.10 (81) | Ipswich Brothers | 5 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
Don Adams | Wing | 22 | 12.6 (79) | Newcastle | 2 | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 33 |
Des McGovern | Wing | 28 | 13.3 (84) | Toowoomba All Whites | 3 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Ian Moir | Wing | 24 | 11.4 (72) | South Sydney | 2 | 16 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 39 |
Alex Watson | Centre | 23 | 13.10 (87) | Brisbane Western Suburbs | 5 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Dick Poole | Centre | 25 | 13.2 (83) | Newtown | 6 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Kevin O'Brien | Centre | 24 | 12.12 (82) | St George | 0 | 11 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 18 |
Tom Payne | Centre | 21 | 12.6 (79) | Toowoomba All Whites | 1 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Bob Banks | Five-eighth | 26 | 12.6 (79) | North Rockhampton | 6 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 17 |
Ian Johnston | Five-eighth | 29 | 12.8 (80) | Western Suburbs | 0 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 21 |
Keith Holman | Halfback | 28 | 11.9 (74) | Western Suburbs | 6 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 40 |
Cyril Connell Jr. | Halfback | 26 | 10.10 (68) | North Rockhampton | 0 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 0 | 64 |
Ian Doyle | Lock | 24 | 13.1 (83) | Toowoomba All Whites | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Tom Tyquin | Lock | 23 | 14.4 (91) | South Brisbane | 3 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Norm Provan | Second-row | 24 | 15.6 (98) | St George | 3 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Kel O'Shea | Second-row | 23 | 15.4 (97) | Western Suburbs | 6 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Bernie Purcell | Second-row | 28 | 13.10 (87) | South Sydney | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 24 |
Don Furner | Second-row | 23 | 14.7 (92) | Toowoomba Souths | 1 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Brian Davies | Prop | 26 | 14.10 (93) | Brisbane Brothers | 3 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
Roy Bull | Prop | 26 | 15.5 (98) | Manly-Warringah | 6 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Bryan Orrock | Prop | 25 | 15.7 (98) | St George | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bill Marsh | Prop | 27 | 14.12 (94) | Cootamundra | 2 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
Ken Kearney | Hooker | 32 | 13.7 (86) | St George | 6 | 19 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
Ernest Hammerton | Hooker | 29 | 11.11 (75) | South Sydney | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Test Venues
[edit]The three Ashes series tests took place at the following venues.
Wigan | Bradford | Swinton |
---|---|---|
Central Park | Odsal Stadium | Station Road |
Capacity: 48,000 | Capacity: 60,000 | Capacity: 40,000 |
Match Results
[edit]The tour began in Great Britain with a series a matches, but the first Test Match of the tour was played against France in Paris. The tourists returned to Great Britain for more matches against English clubs and a three Test Match series against Great Britain. The team then returned to France to play a Second and Third Test against France (the fifth and sixth Tests of the tour), plus matches against club and other representative teams.
October 10 | Liverpool Stanley | 12–40 | Australia | Mill Yard, Liverpool | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 2 Greenhough Hunt Goals: 3 Wood (3) |
Tries: 10 Don Adams (4) Denis Flannery (3) Kel O'Shea Keith Holman Bob Banks Goals: 4 Clive Churchill (3) Brian Davies Field Goals: 1 Clive Churchill |
Attendance: 4,712 Gate: £ 595 Referee: C.F. Appleton |
October 13 | Leeds | 18–13 | Australia | Headingley, Leeds | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 4 McLellan Robinson Pratt Prior Goals: 3 Dunn (3) |
Tries: 3 Ian Moir (2) Keith Holman Goals: 2 Gordon Clifford (2) |
Attendance: 24,459 Gate: £ 3,483 Referee: R. Gelder |
October 15 | Hull F.C. / Hull Kingston Rovers XIII | 14–37 | Australia | Boothferry Park, Hull | |
7.15pm |
Tries: 2 Gittoes Coulson Goals: 4 Buckle (4) |
[4] |
Tries: 9 Brian Davies (2) Ian Moir (2) Dick Poole (2) Denis Flannery Roy Bull Cyril Connell Jr. Goals: 4 Don Furner (3) Clive Churchill Field goals: 1 Clive Churchill |
Attendance: 17,172 Gate: £ 2,680 Referee: M. Coates |
October 18 | Barrow | 11–25 | Australia | Craven Park, Barrow | |
3.30pm |
Tries: 3 Lewthwaite (2) Castle Goals: 1 Ball |
[5] |
Tries: 5 Bob Banks Don Adams Bill Marsh Dick Poole Keith Holman Goals: 4 Bernie Purcell (4) Field goals: 1 Clive Churchill |
Attendance: 9,988 Gate: £ 1,102 Referee: Eric Clay |
October 20 | Whitehaven | 14–11 | Australia | Recreation Ground, Whitehaven | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 2 Tembey Smith Goals: 4 McKeown (4) |
[6][7] |
Tries: 3 Bill Marsh Denis Flannery Cyril Connell Jr. Goals: 1 Clive Churchill |
Attendance: 10,840 Gate: £ 1,253 Referee: R. Thomas |
October 24 | Bradford Northern | 11–23 | Australia | Odsal Stadium, Bradford | |
7.30pm |
Tries: 3 Davies (3) Goals: 1 Seddon |
[8] |
Tries: 5 Des McGovern (2) Gordon Clifford Bill Marsh Cyril Connell Jr. Goals: 4 Gordon Clifford (4) |
Attendance: 2,743 Gate: £ 451 Referee: N.T. Railton |
October 27 | Warrington | 21–17 | Australia | Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 5 Challinor (2) Gilfidder (2) Horton Goals: 3 Bath (3) |
[9] |
Tries: 3 Dick Poole (2) Denis Flannery Goals: 4 Bernie Purcell (4) |
Attendance: 15,613 Gate: £ 2,163 Referee: G. Scott |
October 29 | Rugby League XIII | 15–19 | Australia | Kirkhall Lane, Leigh | |
7.30pm |
Tries: 3 Shar Pitchford Bolton Goals: 3 Jones (3) |
[10][11] |
Tries: 3 Des McGovern (2) Tom Tyquin Goals: 5 Gordon Clifford (5) |
Attendance: 7,811 Gate: £ 1,127 Referee: N.T. Railton |
1st Test vs France
[edit]November 1
|
France | 8–15 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: 2 Augustin Parent Jacky Merquey Goals: 1 Andre Audy |
[12][13][14] |
Tries: 3 Keith Holman (2) Des McGovern Goals: 3 Clive Churchill (2) Keith Holman |
France | Position | Australia |
---|---|---|
Andre Audy | FB | Clive Churchill |
Maurice Voron | WG | Denis Flannery |
Roger Rey | CE | Dick Poole |
Jacky Merquey (c) | CE | Alex Watson |
Andre Savonne | WG | Des McGovern |
Auguste Ambert | SO | Bob Banks |
Guy Lucia | SH | Keith Holman |
François Rinaldi | PR | Roy Bull |
Antranik Apelian | HK | Ken Kearney (c) |
François Montrucolis | PR | Brian Davies |
Robert Medus | SR | Bill Tyquin |
Augustin Parent | SR | Norm Provan |
Jean Rouqueirol | LF | Kel O'Shea |
November 3 | York | 18–20 | Australia | Wigginton Road, York | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 4 Smith Webster Foster Deighton Goals: 3 Yorke (3) |
[15] |
Tries: 4 Ian Johnston (2) Brian Davies Kevin O'Brien Goals: 4 Bernie Purcell (4) |
Attendance: 6,842 Gate: £ 897 Referee: A. Howgate |
November 7 | Oldham | 21–2 | Australia | Watersheddings, Oldham | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 3 Pitchford Etty Turner Goals: 6 Ganley (6) |
Tries: nil Goals: 1 Cyril Connell Jr. |
Attendance: 8,458 Gate: £ 1,268 Referee: T. Watkinson |
November 10 | Huddersfield | 10–20 | Australia | Fartown Ground, Huddersfield | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 2 Fairbank Sullivan Goals: 2 Dyson (2) |
[16] |
Tries: 4 Brian Davies Ian Moir Tom Tyquin Don Adams Goals: 4 Gordon Clifford (4) |
Attendance: 12,127 Gate: £ 1,699 Referee: A.E. Durkin |
1st Test vs Great Britain
[edit]November 17
2.30pm |
Great Britain | 21–10 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Billy Boston (2) Jack Grundy Alan Davies Mick Sullivan Goals: 3 Frank Mortimer (3) |
[17][18] |
Tries: 2 Ian Moir Dick Poole Goals: 2 Keith Holman (2) |
November 21 | Hunslet | 11–27 | Australia | Parkside, Hunslet | |
2.30pm |
Tries: 1 Burnell Goals: 4 Langton (4) |
[19] |
Tries: 5 Cyril Connell Jr. (2) Kevin O'Brien Denis Flannery Kel O'Shea Goals: 6 Gordon Clifford (6) |
Attendance: 4,451 Gate: £ 400 Referee: G. Wilson |
November 24 | St Helens | 44–2 | Australia | Knowsley Road St Helens | |
2.30pm |
Tries: 10 Llewellyn (2) Gaskell McCabe Silcock Karalius Rhodes Dickinson Terry Prescott Goals: 7 Rhodes (7) |
[20] |
Tries: nil Goals: 1 Gordon Clifford |
Attendance: 15,579 Gate: £ 1,931 Referee: F. Smith |
2nd Test vs Great Britain
[edit]December 1
2.30pm |
Great Britain | 9–22 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: 1 Jeff Stevenson Goals: 3 Frank Mortimer (3) |
[21][22][23] |
Tries: 4 Keith Holman Bob Banks Brian Davies Roy Bull Goals: 5 Gordon Clifford (5) |
December 5 | Halifax | 6–3 | Australia | Thrum Hall, Halifax | |
2.30pm |
Tries: nil Goals: 3 Owen (3) |
Tries: 1 Ian Moir Goals: nil |
Attendance: 2,254 Gate: £ 280 Referee: J. Clapham |
December 8 | Wigan | 4–32 | Australia | Central Park, Wigan | |
2.30pm |
Tries: nil Goals: 2 Ashton (2) |
Tries: 6 Ian Doyle (2) Des McGovern Alex Watson Denis Flannery Keith Holman Goals: 7 Gordon Clifford (7) |
Attendance: 15,854 Gate: £ 2,032 Referee: H. Harrison |
December 10 | Wakefield Trinity | 17–12 | Australia | Belle Vue, Wakefield | |
2.30pm |
Tries: 3 Hirst Rollin Bullock Goals: 4 Fox (4) |
Tries: 2 Ian Johnston Cyril Connell Jr. Goals: 3 Clive Churchill (3) |
Attendance: 3,381 Gate: £ 309 Referee: G. Philpott |
3rd Test vs Great Britain
[edit]December 15
2.30pm |
Great Britain | 19–0 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Sid Little Derek Turner Geoff Gunney Mick Sullivan Billy Boston Goals: 2 Alan Davies (2) |
[24][25] |
Tries: nil Goals: nil |
December 18 | French Army XIII | 11–11 | Australia | Palais des Sports, Limoges | |
Tries: 1 Alberti Goals: 4 Giriat (4) |
Tries: 3 Don Adams Kevin O'Brien Ian Johnston Goals: 1 Cyril Connell Jr. |
Attendance: 3,153 |
December 20 | Racing Club Albi XIII | 20–25 | Australia Palais des Sports |
Stade Maurice Rigaud, Albi | |
Tries: 4 Verdier Bessieres Tounos Berthomieu Goals: 4 Galaup (4) |
[26] |
Tries: 5 Cyril Connell Jr. (2) Bob Banks (2) Ian Moir Goals: 5 Cyril Connell Jr. (5) |
Attendance: 3,789 |
2nd Test vs France
[edit]December 23
|
France | 6–10 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: nil Goals: 3 Gilbert Benausse (2) Andre Audy |
[27][28] |
Tries: 2 Denis Flannery Keith Holman Goals: 1 Gordon Clifford Field goals: 1 Gordon Clifford |
France | Position | Australia |
---|---|---|
Andre Audy | FB | Gordon Clifford |
Maurice Voron | WG | Denis Flannery |
Roger Rey | CE | Alex Watson |
Antoine Jiminez | CE | Dick Poole |
Andre Ducasse | WG | Don Adams |
Gilbert Benausse | SO | Bob Banks |
Jean Dop | SH | Keith Holman |
Angélo Boldini | PR | Bryan Orrock |
Antranik Apelian | HK | Ken Kearney (c) |
Guy Berthomieu (c) | PR | Roy Bull |
Gilbert Verdié | SR | Kel O'Shea |
Armand Save | SR | Norm Provan |
Christian Duple | LF | Ian Doyle |
December 26 | AS Carcassonne | 12–26 | Australia | Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne | |
Tries: 2 Marty Husson Goals: 3 Marty (3) |
Tries: 6 Denis Flannery (3) Ian Johnston Keith Holman Cyril Connell Jr. Goals: 4 Cyril Connell Jr. (4) |
Attendance: 3,493 Gate: Fr 922,200 |
December 31 | XIII Catalan | 14–20 | Australia | Stade Jean-Laffon Perpignan | |
Tries: nil Goals: 6 Puig Aubert (6) Field Goals: 1 Puig Aubert |
[29] |
Tries: 4 Ian Moir (2) Gordon Clifford Tom Payne Goals: 4 Gordon Clifford (4) |
Attendance: 7,900 Gate: Fr 2,493,550 Referee: M. Roudine |
3rd Test vs France
[edit]January 3
3.00pm |
France | 21–25 | Australia |
---|---|---|
Tries: 5 Andre Savonne (2) Jean Nerorezoff Jacques Fabre Jacky Merquey Goals: 3 André Rives (3) |
[30] |
Tries: 5 Dick Poole Ian Moir Ken Kearney Tom Payne Norm Provan Goals: 4 Gordon Clifford (4) Field Goals: Bob Banks |
France | Position | Australia |
---|---|---|
André Rives | FB | Gordon Clifford |
Andre Savonne | WG | Denis Flannery |
Antoine Jiminez | CE | Tom Payne |
Roger Rey | CE | Dick Poole |
Jean Nedorezoff | WG | Ian Moir |
Jacky Merquey (c) | SO | Bob Banks |
Claude Teisseire | SH | Keith Holman |
Henri Delhoste | PR | Bill Marsh |
Louis Michel | HK | Ken Kearney (c) |
Jacques Fabre | PR | Roy Bull |
Guy Berthomieu | SR | Norm Provan |
Augustin Parent | SR | Kel O'Shea |
Christian Duple | LF | Ian Doyle |
January 6 | Avignon | 11–38 | Australia | Parc des Sports, Avignon | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 1 Savonne Goals: 4 Pascal (4) |
Tries: 10 Don Adams (2) Ian Moir (2) Ian Johnston (2) Norm Provan (2) Cyril Connell Jr. Bill Marsh Goals: 4 Cyril Connell Jr. (4) |
Attendance: 5,061 Gate: Fr 937,100 Referee: M. Casson |
January 10 | Marseille | 7–37 | Australia | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | |
3.00pm |
Tries: 1 Carmouze Goals: 2 Andre (2) |
Tries: 9 Kevin O'Brien (3) Don Adams (2) Bill Marsh Tom Payne Ken Kearney Keith Holman Goals: 5 Cyril Connell Jr. (2) Keith Holman (2) Ken Kearney |
Attendance: 2,938 Gate: Fr 2,420,350 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Connell And Banks Gain Selection In Kangaroos". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 13 September 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 October 1956). "Australia's 1956–57 Kangaroos". The Rugby League News. 37 (29). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756032832. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ E.E.Christensen (1957). "The 1956–57 Kangaroos". E.E. Christensen's Official Rugby League Yearbook. 11. Sydney: E.E.Christensen.
- ^ "Brillian Football by Kangaroos". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 October 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Strong Barrow Side To Meet Kangaroos". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 18 October 1956. p. 20. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Missed Chances Rob Kangaroos of Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 27 October 1956. p. 8. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Poor Kicking Leads To Kangaroos' Defeat". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 25 October 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ New South Wales Rugby Football League. (1 December 1956). "Kangaroos' Rally Won At Odsal". The Rugby League News. 37 (31). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756066917. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ "Warrington Beat Kangaroos 21-17". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 29 October 1956. p. 10. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Longworth, Tom (1 December 1956). "Kanga's Floodlit Win - Australians Turned on the Heat". The Rugby League News. 37 (31). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756067861. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ "Kangaroos Great In 19-15 Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 31 October 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ First Test - France v Australia
- ^ Black, Tiger (1 December 1956). "Holman Starred in Paris test". The Rugby League News. 37 (31). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756067007. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ "Kangaroos Win 15-8 in France". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 November 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Kangaroos Defeat York 20-18 in Epic Struggle". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 8 November 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Kangaroos Take Heart From Huddersfield Win". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 15 November 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ First Test - Great Britain v Australia
- ^ Black, Tiger (1 December 1956). "Forward Failed in Wigan Test". The Rugby League News. 37 (31). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756067197. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ "Kangaroos' 27-11 Win". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 29 November 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Kangaroos Suffer Worst Defeat". The Central Queensland Herald. Rockhampton: National Library of Australia. 29 November 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Second Test - Great Britain v Australia
- ^ Black, Tiger (1 January 1957). "Test Win - Shock to England". The Rugby League News. 37 (32). Sydney: N.S.W. Rugby Football League. nla.obj-756095561. Retrieved 2 January 2022 – via Trove.
- ^ "Kangaroos Shock England In 22-9 Test Win". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 December 1956. p. 9. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Third Test - Great Britain v Australia
- ^ "Kangaroos Thrashed By England In Third Test Match". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 17 December 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Kangaroos Shine On Firm Ground". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 27 December 1956. p. 8. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Second Test - France v Australia
- ^ "Kangaroos Beat France In Fine Display". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 25 December 1956. p. 12. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ "Kangaroos Win Wild Match". The Canberra Times. Canberra: National Library of Australia. 3 January 1957. p. 12. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
- ^ Third Test - France v Australia