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The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward win in the opening Test of the Ashes.

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 crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the UK of over sixty thousand spectators.

Brilliant Display from Walsh

Guided by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were worthy and comfortable winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must triumph at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a series victory since 1970.

England will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the first half, the hosts found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in large measure thanks to Walsh, who pulled off two wonderful turnovers.

Crucial Plays of the Game

The initial occurred as Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Lewis as half-time approached. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Walsh himself completed a excellent move.

Nathan Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of half-time to open up a two-score advantage. It was a significant point, as was the score for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favour of the visitors. England now had to score three times 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. Munster's half-break was supported by Crichton, who pushed past Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it 20-0 and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Walsh finished another breathtaking move, taking advantage of a weary and visibly shot English defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many missed Clark's consolation, which at least prevented the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are many issues for the coach to answer going into what is now a do-or-die match next Saturday.

• Home Side: Welsby; Young, Farnworth, Wardle, Johnstone; Williams, Lewis; Havard, Clark, Lees, Bateman, Pearce-Paul, Knowles.
• Substitutes: Litten, Walmsley, Trout, McMeeken.
• Try: Daryl Clark.
• Goal: Lewis.

• Visitors: Walsh; Nawaqanitawase, Staggs, Shibasaki, Addo-Carr; Munster, Cleary; Carrigan, Grant, Fa’asuamaleaui, Crichton, Young, Yeo.
• Bench: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Kicks: Nathan Cleary (five).