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The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward victory in the first match of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s team had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were definitely full of effort at Wembley. However, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who showed 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 exceptional showing in attack and defence from club star Reece Walsh, Australia were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning the hosts must win at Goodison Park next Saturday to sustain their hopes of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the first half, 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 Reece Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Game

The first came as Herbie Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then the fullback stopped Mikey Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Kangaroos had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful play.

Cleary converted before adding a penalty on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Crichton shortly after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to halt their momentum.

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

That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh completed another scintillating move, taking advantage of a weary and visibly shot England defensive line for his second try.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least avoided England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win Test next weekend.

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

• Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Reserves.
• Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Kicks: Cleary 5.