The replacement rule operated for the first time since 1924. Australia's captain-coach Ian Walsh replaced Beetson because he felt he was not fit enough to last 80 minutes. But Beetson had done the early damage. Stealing the ball from a British forward, he ran to set up a try for Ken Irvine. The try was Irvine's tenth against Great Britain, breaking the record he shared with Gasnier and Billy Boston. Irvine scored two more in the match to take his tally to 12. Beetson was again the catalyst for the second try, scored on the opposite wing, when he kicked from halfway towards the hill corner. Johnny King, forever in position, won the race for the ball. Johns converted and Australia led 8 - 0. Walsh was the only forward in the Third test pack to have played in the First test.

Kelly, Wittenberg, Veivers, Beetson and Lynch, as well as Thornett did not play in that loss. Thornett had been left out of the 15 for the Third test, but the Australian Rugby League refused to accept the team until he was added.

Even with Watson off the field, it required a highly contentious try to edge Australia to a 19 -14 Ashes winning victory. Referee Col Pearce had ruled that a pass from Johns midway through the second half, which hit Irving on the shoulder, had gone backwards. The British, and many in the crowd, felt it was knocked forward.

Johns helped seal the victory four minutes from the end when he sliced through again and gave Irvine his third try. Irvine's three try effort in the Test is still the only time an Australian has scored three tries in a test against Great Britain on home soil.

(From the History of Austrailian Rugby League.)