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The home side's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the tourists secured a surprisingly comfortable win in the opening Test of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s team had spoken effusively about their motivation going into the first Ashes for over two decades, and they were definitely full of endeavour at the famous stadium. Yet, in the key instances, it was the world champions who showed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh

Guided by an outstanding display in attack and defence from club star Walsh, Australia were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Goodison Park next weekend to sustain their aspirations of a series victory since the 1970s.

England will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two superb turnovers.

Key Moments of the Game

The first occurred as Farnworth seemed destined to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh stopped Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself finished a wonderful move.

Cleary added the extras before adding a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to establish a two-score lead. It was a significant moment, as was the try for Crichton shortly after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the visitors. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their drive.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line 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 further humiliation in the closing stages as Walsh finished another scintillating move, taking advantage of a weary and clearly exhausted English defense for his second.

Final Score and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for the coach to answer going into what is now a do-or-die 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: Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Australia: Starting lineup.
• Bench: Reserves.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Kicks: Cleary 5.