The home side's attacking frailties were exposed and punished by a clinical Australia as the visitors swept to a worryingly straightforward victory in the opening Test of the rugby league Ashes series.
The England coach's team had spoken effusively about their drive going into the opening series for 22 years, and they were certainly not short on endeavour at Wembley. Yet, in the crucial moments, it was the world champions who displayed more calmness in front of a historic crowd for an series match in the United Kingdom of over sixty thousand spectators.
Led by an exceptional display in offense and defense from Brisbane Broncos’ Walsh, Australia were deserving and convincing winners in the opening Test of the three-match series, meaning England must win at Goodison Park next Saturday to keep alive their aspirations of a series victory since 1970.
They will have to be much better with the possession if they are to achieve that. On several instances in the opening period, the home team found themselves in promising positions but they were unable to cross for any points. That was in no small part thanks to Reece Walsh, who executed two wonderful turnovers.
The initial occurred as Herbie Farnworth seemed destined to put Dom 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 excellent play.
Nathan Cleary converted before adding a penalty on the brink of the interval to open up a eight-point lead. It was a significant moment, as was the try for Angus Crichton shortly after the resumption which made it 14-0 in favour of the Kangaroos. England 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 a quarter-hour to go. Munster's line break was backed up by Angus Crichton, who pushed past Jack Welsby for the Kangaroos' third score.
That made it twenty to zero and there was further humiliation in the final minutes as Reece Walsh completed another breathtaking move, taking advantage of a tired and clearly exhausted England defensive line for his second.
By then, local supporters had begun to filter out and many did not see Daryl Clark’s late try, which at least avoided England being held to nil. Nonetheless, there are many issues for the coach to address going into what is now a do-or-die match next weekend.
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