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England's offensive weaknesses were laid bare and capitalized on by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.

The England coach's team had talked at length about their motivation 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 reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Reece Walsh

Led by an outstanding showing in attack and defence from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-match series, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to keep alive their aspirations of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.

England will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the first half, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two superb interceptions.

Crucial Plays of the Match

The first occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Lewis as the break approached. By then, the Australians had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a excellent move.

Cleary converted before kicking a penalty on the brink of half-time to open up a eight-point lead. It was a significant point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to stifle their momentum.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with 15 minutes to go. Cameron Munster’s half-break was backed up by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the closing stages as Reece Walsh finished another scintillating attack, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second try.

Final Score and Looking Ahead

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Clark's consolation, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. However, there are plenty of questions for Wane to address going into what is now a must-win match next Saturday.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Substitutes: Bench players.
• Tries: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

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