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England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a surprisingly comfortable victory in the first match of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their drive going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at the famous stadium. However, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more composure in front of a record attendance for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Outstanding Display from Walsh

Led by an exceptional 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 weekend to sustain their aspirations of a first Ashes win since 1970.

They will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful interceptions.

Crucial Plays of the Match

The first occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.

Cleary converted before adding a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a pivotal moment, as was the try for Angus Crichton soon after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favour of the visitors. England now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their drive.

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

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Walsh finished another breathtaking move, exploiting a weary and clearly exhausted England defense for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see Daryl Clark’s consolation, which at least avoided England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are many issues for Wane to address 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.
• Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Mikey Lewis.

• Visitors: Starting lineup.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Tries: Reece Walsh (two), Angus Crichton (two).
• Goals: Cleary 5.