1979: The Coq Rises in the East
France entered the 1979 tournament in Japan without Bastiat, without Skrela, Lux, Dourthe, or Bertranne, but they weren't only team with a different look. Without Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett, or Gerald Davies, Wales was not what it was. Led by JPR Williams, they had talent and skill, but not the genius of previous years. New Zealand, too, was learning to live without stars such as Going, Williams, and Batty. They, however, still had Bruce Robertson at center, and the brilliant Graham Mourie leading the team from flanker.
As for the Australians, a year later they would begin to unveil the talent lurking in their youth system. The 1979 team didn't quite have that magic. England, too, were a year from their Grand Slam season. Bill Beaumont's leadership was evident, however, as England won their pool for the first time.
Four years ago the Pacific Islanders had not been well represented. This time, it was Europe that left some behind. The American contingent included a tough second rower names Jack Clark, while Argentina again trotted out a surprisingly strong team.
Pool W Pool X Pool Y Pool Z
New Zealand France Ireland England
Scotland Argentina Australia Wales
W. Samoa Japan Rhodesia Fiji
Ivory Coast Cook Islands USA Canada
Ireland had toured Australia earlier in the year and swept the Wallabies. Their showdown in Japan was little different, with Tony Ward scoring 16 points in a convincing 24-14 Irish win. Fans were delighted to see a new tactic from the Australians. From a penalty kick Paul McLean would simply pop the ball in the air over to the wing. Brendan Moon scored two tries in pool play with that one. Hosts Japan recorded their first victory in the World Cup, while Rhodesia failed to capture the magic of four years previous.
Quarterfinals
New Zealand v. Wales
France v. Scotland
Ireland v. Argentina
England v. Australia
A future final and a previous final played out in the quarters, with England and New Zealand emerging victorious.
Paul McLean kicked 11 points and Paddy Batch scored a try, but England bulled over for one by the inimitable Tony Neary, and scrumhalf Steve Smith scampered over for another. Dusty Hare’s kicking was just enough for a 15-11 England.
The forwards proved the winners in New Zealand v. Wales. Mourie’s unit, which included James Dalton, Brad Johnstone, Frank Oliver, and Andy Haden, was mobile and very tough. They rampaged over Martin, Quinnell, and others, harassing Terry Holmes at scrumhalf and winning enough ball for the backs. Mourie scored, as did Bevan Wilson and Dave Loveridge in a 19-9 All Black victory.
France and Scotland engaged each other in another epic contest of open, running rugby. Scotland had Irvine, Renwick, Robertson, McGeechan, and Bruce Hay. All were set free by John Rutherford, probably the best running flyhalf the game has ever seen. Up front David Leslie was a brilliant flanker, and the rangy Alan Tomes was a surprisingly fast lock.
But France had the runners, too. Frederic Costes and Gourdon patrolled one wing, while Patrick Mesny and Didier Codorniou held the center solid. Also deep were the dangerous Jean-Michel Aguirre and Jean-Luc Averous. Their genius was scrumhalf Jerome Gallion. The forwards had lost Skrela, but still had Rives, and had added the big flanker Jean-Luc Joinel.
Irvine provided several of his celebrated counter-attacking moves, this time finished off by Renwick. Rutherford and hooker Colin Deans also scored tries. The French seemed to take a little while to get going, but took it wide off a lineout for Aguirre. Gallion scored also, as did Mesny. After both sides added penalties. A close, exciting game came down to an Alain Caussade drop goal for a 24-21 French victory.
Then came the great surprise. Like 20 years later, the Irish were a little too conservative and a little overconfident. In Mike Gibson’s final World Cup game, he was unable to marshal the troops against a motivated Puma side. The great Hugo Porta led the charge in everything, dropping two goals, taking quick-tap penalties when everything though he would kick for goal, and scoring tries. Adding to Porta’s tally of 17 was Marcelo Campo racing around the wing for a score, and eightman Gabrielo Travaglini in a classic Puma pushover. Argentina 25 Ireland 18.
Semi Finals
New Zealand v. England
Argentina v. France
Two different cultural roots for the game, two very different games. The All Black and England played it close to the vest, depending on two strong sets of forwards to protect the ball. In the end, it worked for New Zealand, as they sucked the English in and sent it wide. Stu Wilson chased down a Robertson kick, and Brad Johnstone bulled over for another. New Zealand 13 England 9.
Argentina and France had met each other numerous times, so the French were under absolutely no illusions regarding the Pumas’ strengths. Joinel and Rives targeted Porta — they didn’t stop him, but they came close. France held off the Argentine scrum and fan in six tries —Caussade, Rives, Dintrans, Gallion (2), and Mesny. France 33 Argentina 12.
Final:
France 29 (4T, 4C, 1P)
New Zealand 15 (1T, 1C, 2P, 1DG)
Playoff:
England 21
Argentina 18
In the final, it was Bastille Day all over again. Just as they had done in New Zealand on July 14, the French kept winning lineout ball they weren’t expected to win, and kept running the ball.
Joinel, Rives, and Salas at No. 8 were all over the paddock, and harassed Murray Taylor into some poor decisions at 1st 5/8. The game started on an odd note, when, shades of Cardiff in 1978, Alain Maleig pushed Andy Haden out of a lineout. The Welsh referee whistled Haden for diving out, and Aquirre slotted the penalty goal. Soon it became obvious that Gallion could keep the All Black forwards honest, and the backs would spread it wide at every opportunity. Codorniou, Mesny, Joinel, and Costes all scored tries in a delightful match made close only by Robertson’s drop and try. After coming close oh so many times, the French were the toast of Tokyo … and the world.
1979 Champions: France