Walsh Shines as Dominant Australia Sweep The Hosts Aside in Opening Ashes Test
The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a ruthless Australia as the tourists secured a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the Ashes.
Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at Wembley. However, in the key instances, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.
Outstanding Performance from Reece Walsh
Guided by an exceptional display in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Reece Walsh, the Kangaroos were worthy and comfortable victors in the opening Test of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Goodison Park next weekend to keep alive their aspirations of a first Ashes win since 1970.
England will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On multiple occasions in the first half, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who pulled off two superb turnovers.
Key Moments of the Match
The initial came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself completed a excellent play.
Cleary converted before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the score for Angus Crichton shortly after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. England 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 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s line break was backed up by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking move, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted English defensive line for his second.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many missed Clark's late try, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for the coach to address going into what is now a must-win match next Saturday.
- Home Side: Full team lineup.
- Substitutes: Bench players.
- Tries: Clark.
- Goal: Mikey Lewis.
- Australia: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
- Interchange: Reserves.
- Tries: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
- Goals: Cleary 5.
