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The home side's attacking frailties were laid bare and capitalized on by a ruthless Australian side as the visitors secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the opening Test of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s team had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at the famous stadium. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the reigning title holders who displayed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Brilliant Performance from Walsh

Led by an outstanding display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing victors in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must win at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their hopes of a first Ashes win since 1970.

England will have to be much better with the ball if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the home team found themselves in advantageous situations but they were failed to score 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 Farnworth seemed certain to put Dom Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh stopped Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Australians had taken the lead as Reece Walsh himself finished a excellent play.

Cleary added the extras before kicking a two-pointer on the brink of the interval to establish a two-score advantage. It was a pivotal moment, as was the try for Angus Crichton shortly after the restart which made it 14-0 in favor of the visitors. England now had to cross the line thrice and that seemed to stifle their drive.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were firmly put to bed with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was supported by Crichton, who broke through Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Reece Walsh completed another scintillating move, taking advantage of a tired and clearly exhausted English defense for his second try.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, local supporters had begun to leave early and many did not see Clark's late try, which at least avoided the home side finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane 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.
• Interchange: 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.
• Interchange: Dearden, Collins, Cotter, Koloamatangi.
• Scores: Walsh 2, Crichton 2.
• Kicks: Cleary 5.