🔗 Share this article

The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the opening Test of the Ashes.

The England coach's team had talked at length about their drive going into the first Ashes for over two decades, and they were definitely full of endeavour at Wembley. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who showed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Performance from Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning the hosts must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to sustain their aspirations of a series victory since the 1970s.

They will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two superb interceptions.

Key Moments of the Match

The first came as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.

Nathan Cleary converted before adding a penalty on the stroke of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a significant moment, as was the score for Angus Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

If there were any doubt about the victors, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking move, exploiting a tired and visibly shot England defensive line for his second.

Final Score and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many missed Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are many issues for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win Test next Saturday.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Interchange: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Goals: Nathan Cleary (five).