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The home side's offensive weaknesses were exposed and punished by a ruthless Australian side as the tourists secured a worryingly straightforward win in the first match of the rugby league Ashes series.

The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the first Ashes for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on effort at Wembley. However, in the key instances, it was the world champions who showed more composure in front of a historic crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom of more than 60,000.

Outstanding Display from Walsh

Led by an exceptional display in offense and defense from club star Walsh, the Kangaroos were deserving and convincing winners in the first match of the three-game contest, meaning England must win at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium next weekend to keep alive their aspirations of a series victory since 1970.

They will have to be significantly improved with the ball if they are to accomplish that goal. On several instances in the opening period, the hosts found themselves in promising positions but they were failed to score for any tries. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful interceptions.

Key Moments of the Game

The initial occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed certain to put Young in for what would have been the opening try, then Walsh denied Mikey Lewis as half-time neared. By then, the Kangaroos had gone ahead as Reece Walsh himself completed a wonderful move.

Cleary added the extras before adding a penalty on the brink of half-time to establish a two-score advantage. It was a significant moment, as was the score for Angus Crichton soon after the resumption 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.

Should there have been uncertainty about the winners, they were decisively settled with a quarter-hour to go. Munster's half-break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for Australia’s third try.

That made it twenty to zero and there was added disappointment in the final minutes as Walsh finished another scintillating attack, exploiting a tired and visibly shot English defensive line for his second.

Match Result and Outlook

By then, home fans had begun to filter out and many missed Clark's late try, which at least avoided the home side being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are plenty of questions for Wane to answer going into what is now a do-or-die match next Saturday.

• England: Full team lineup.
• Substitutes: Bench players.
• Try: Daryl Clark.
• Conversion: Lewis.

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