1955: Bread of Heaven
Held in Cardiff, the 1955 World Cup unified the dissenting Home Unions, bringing them grudgingly into the World Cup fold. Several members of the Scottish RFU, however, resigned over the decision to participate. The tournament again featured 12 teams, with nations like the United States, Canada, and Japan unable to make the trip. Italy did play, however, and were politely applauded as Wales and Australia ran roughshod over them.
That this became Cliff Morgan's World Cup was due, certainly, to his great talent. But it was also due to contrasts. This was a World Cup of big, strong locks. Johannes Claasen of South Africa and Lucien Mias of France both powered their respective scrums, while Wales and Ireland relied on the skill of Morgan and Kyle, while England’s smooth scrum half, Dickie Jeeps, was one of the best in the world. Fans cheered them all, but the smooth, quick Morgan was in the spotlight from the first kickoff.
Pool A Pool B Pool C
New Zealand France Wales
Scotland South Africa Australia
Fiji Tonga Italy
England Ireland W. Samoa
England were in a downswing in the mid 1950s, and New Zealand made quick work of its pool group, with only Scotland providing much opposition. Wales had some trouble with Australia, winning 18-13, but delighted the Cardiff Arms Park crowds with record point totals against Western Samoa (29-11) and then Italy (34-3). A depleted South Africa had a harder time of it, falling to France 16-9 and narrowly beating Ireland 12-11.
Byes to Semis:
New Zealand
Wales
Quarterfinals:
France v. Scotland
South Africa v. Australia
Semifinals:
New Zealand 16
South Africa 9
The flyhalf/center combination of Ross Brown and Allan Elsom helped pick apart a South African defense not quite as dominant as that of a few years ago. The Springboks scored three tries, including one from Tom Van Vollenhoven, a record sixth for the tournament, but their kicking let them down. Meanwhile prop Kevin Skinner led a tough pack that secured plenty of ball for Brown and his backs. Brown and Ron Jarden scored tries, and winger Jarden added two conversions and two penalty goals for a handy seven-point victory.
Wales 21
France 13
As wide open a game as was played all tournament, only excellent center defense kept the score down. French center Andre Boniface set up two tries and scored another, but the Welsh were up to the challenge, scoring four tries (three converted) and adding a Gary Owen penalty.
Final:
Wales 19 (3T, 2C, 2P) New Zealand 17 (3T, 2C, 1P, 1DG)
3rd Place Match
South Africa 11 France 9
Cliff Morgan directed a smooth Welsh attack with precision and finesse, dissecting a staunch All Black defense and distributing the ball smoothly to his backs. Winger Ken Jones was the chief beneficiary, scoring two tries, while Morgan himself scampered around the blind side from a scrum to touch down late in the second half. Fullback Gary Owen converted two tries and added two penalty goals for a tournament leading total of 51. New Zealand also scored three tries, converting one, a penalty and a drop goal but for the second straight tournament, New Zealand had fallen short. As one writer put it, "In a 15-man game, it borders on the obscene to single out one man. But this was, and always will be, Cliff Morgan's final."
1955 Champions: Wales