Walsh Takes Center Stage as Ruthless Australia Sweep The Hosts Aside in First Ashes Match

England's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.

The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were definitely full of endeavour at Wembley. However, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who showed more composure in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Outstanding Display from Walsh

Led by an exceptional showing in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Goodison Park next weekend to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the first half, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers.

Crucial Plays of the Game

The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself finished a excellent play.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

Should there have been uncertainty about the victors, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the closing stages as Reece Walsh completed another breathtaking attack, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted English defense for his second try.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least prevented England being held to nil. However, there are many issues for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.

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

• Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Kicks: Cleary 5.