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The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australian side as the visitors secured a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.

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 effort at Wembley. However, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Led by an outstanding showing in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their aspirations of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be much better with the possession if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations 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 came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Walsh himself finished a excellent move.

Nathan Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the stroke of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Angus Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the Kangaroos. England now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their drive.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh completed another scintillating move, taking advantage of a tired and visibly shot English defense for his second.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many did not see Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least avoided England being held to nil. However, there are many issues for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win match next Saturday.

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

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