Walsh Takes Center Stage as Ruthless The Kangaroos Defeat The Hosts Away in First Ashes Match
The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors 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 opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at Wembley. Yet, in the key instances, it was the reigning title holders who showed more calmness in front of a record attendance for an Ashes Test in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.
Brilliant Performance from Walsh
Guided by an outstanding showing in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing victors in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must triumph at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their aspirations of a first Ashes win since 1970.
England will have to be much better with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two superb turnovers.
Key Moments of the Game
The first came as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh stopped Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.
Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score lead. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it fourteen to nil in favour of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their momentum.
If there were any doubt about the victors, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Munster's line break was supported by Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another breathtaking move, taking advantage of a tired and visibly shot English defense for his second try.
Final Score and Looking Ahead
By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many did not see Clark's consolation, which at least prevented England being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for the coach to address going into what is now a must-win Test next Saturday.
- England: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
- Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
- Tries: Clark.
- Conversion: Mikey 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: Nathan Cleary (five).
