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England's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the tourists secured a surprisingly comfortable victory in the first match of the Ashes.

Shaun Wane’s side had talked at length about their motivation going into the opening series 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 displayed more composure in front of a record attendance 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 victors in the first match of the three-match series, meaning the hosts must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to sustain their hopes of a first Ashes win since the 1970s.

They will have to be significantly improved with the possession if they are to achieve that. On multiple occasions 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 interceptions.

Crucial Plays of the Match

The initial occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the first score, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as the break neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful play.

Nathan Cleary added the extras before kicking a penalty on the stroke of the interval to establish a eight-point advantage. It was a pivotal point, as was the try for Crichton soon after the resumption which made it fourteen to nil in favor of the Kangaroos. The hosts now had to score three times and that seemed to halt their momentum.

If there were any doubt about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.

That made it 20-0 and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh completed another breathtaking attack, exploiting a tired and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Looking Ahead

By then, home fans had begun to leave early and many missed Clark's consolation, which at least prevented England finishing scoreless. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a must-win match next weekend.

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

• Visitors: 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: Nathan Cleary (five).