By Callum Milne, Sportsbeat
England coach Shaun Wane insisted his side must show Australia the best of themselves next weekend after day one defeat in the Ashes.
Doubles from Reece Walsh and Angus Crichton for the Kangaroos saw Australia overcome England 26–6 in a deserved victory at Wembley.
Advertisement
But despite the disappointment of being second best on the opening day, Wane was already fixated on next week’s challenge of the second test in Liverpool.
Wane said: “We must be obsessed that they see the best of us next week, that’s the beauty of three Test matches.
“The only thing on our mind is ending the game at Hill Dickinson and us being the winners.
“We have to win.”
A 22-year wait for a full Ashes series between England and Australia was over with the match played in front of a UK rugby league Ashes attendance record of 60,812.
Advertisement
But all that record did was further Wane’s heartache when told.
Wane said: “It makes me even sadder, it’s very strong.
“We really wanted to make them proud and put a performance on and challenge Australia, we so badly wanted to do that.”
In the early stages, the Kangaroos endured a worrying start as captain Isaah Yeo was forced off with a head injury, after being clattered by Dom Young inside 12 minutes.
The loose forward also failed his head injury assessment on the sideline, meaning he will be unavailable for the second Test.
Advertisement
A tightly contested first 20 minutes was spun open by Australia’s Walsh, capitalising on Mikey Lewis being dispossessed.
The full-back fired the Aussies into the lead, with Nathan Cleary converting to make it 6-0.
In the aftermath of going behind, the Lions responded well, only for hooker Jez Litten to be penalised right before half-time for tackling Walsh without the ball.
Cleary slotted the penalty to extend the Kangaroos lead to 8–0.
A stunning counter-attack from Walsh gave Australia good field position early in the second half and while they could not take immediate advantage, second row Crichton made England pay, dancing inside Alex Walmsley, with Jack Welsby in no-man’s land.
Advertisement
Cleary made it three from three with his conversions, and drove Australia into a 14–0 lead.
Crichton’s second try, after a show and go by Cameron Munster, all but ended the tie, Cleary’s conversion making it 20-0.
Walsh heaped more misery to England with his second nine minutes from time as Australia piled it on.
England did at least have the final say to take some momentum into the second Test when Daryl Clark forced his way over three minutes from the end.
Advertisement
Australia coach Kevin Walters was full of praise for Kangaroos new-boy Walsh after his man of the match display and reflected on his side’s victory.
“He was okay,” Walters joked.
“He’s a good player and he’s been in great form for a long time now, so it’s good to see him finally in the green and gold and just being Reece Walsh and playing footie.
“It’s not easy playing for the Roos, we defended really well and that makes me happier more than anything.”
Article courtesy of
Source link
