🔗 Share this article

The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australia as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the opening Test of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for over two decades, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. However, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Performance from Walsh

Guided by an outstanding display in offense and defense from club star Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to sustain their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who executed two superb turnovers.

Crucial Plays of the Match

The initial occurred as Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then the fullback denied Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful play.

Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a eight-point lead. It was a significant point, as was the score for Angus Crichton shortly after the restart which made it 14-0 in favour of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Crichton, who broke through Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it 20-0 and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating attack, taking advantage of a tired and visibly shot England defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. However, there are many issues for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win match next weekend.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Interchange: Bench players.
• Try: Daryl Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Interchange: Reserves.
• Scores: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Goals: Cleary 5.