Reece Walsh’s incredible form spike exploded again on Test debut, with the Kangaroos fullback named man of the match as Australia dominated England 26-6 in the Ashes series opener at Wembley.
Fresh from arguably the greatest individual grand final performance ever seen as Brisbane won the NRL premiership, Walsh scored two tries in his first Test as Kangaroos No.1 — marking the first with an extravagant swan dive that set the tone for another masterclass.
Still just 23, Walsh also saved two tries in the first half after taking over as Test custodian from Dylan Edwards. Walsh ran for 175m, while fellow rookie Mark Nawaqanitwase also had a superb debut in the wing, notching 201m and unleashing his trademark flair as he became a dual international. Roosters teammate Angus Crichton also scored a pair.
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“It’s pretty surreal for myself, being at Wembley, being in a bunch of world-class players,” Walsh told the BBC post-match.
“Pretty happy with how we went out there, we had a really good week at training, world-class players in our team, so it made it a lot easier for us boys in the spine and everybody on the team.”
Walsh added that he was most pleased with the tries he saved: “That goes a long way to getting the result tonight.”
Instantly iconic: Reece Walsh’s jaw-dropping first Test try.Source: AP
In a match where England slowed the ruck chronically, the Australians proved themselves a far superior side despite a somewhat wasteful performance in which they made 11 errors; which was gradually eclipsed by 12 from the home side.
The Kangaroos won after losing captain Isaah Yeo to an HIA after an eighth-minute head collision with England winger Dom Young, and he will again be missing for the second Test after being classified with a category 1 concussion. Reuben Cotter filled his spot at lock and clocked 59 minutes.
MATCH CENTRE: Kangaroos 26 defeat England 6 in first Ashes Test
Yeo OFF after early concussion scare | 00:30
Harry Grant took over as skipper and had a typically classy game, while the match was a triumph for Kevin Walters in his first Test as Kangaroos coach, having been given the job — for now — only for this three-Test series.
England counterpart Shaun Wane cut a sombre figure at full-time and may ring in changes for the second Test. Captain George Williams impressed with his running game, ahead of a planned return to the NRL with the Dolphins in 2027, which former Queensland State of Origin star AJ Brimson wasn’t selected after changing his international allegiance.
The early exchanges were willing and the Poms got plenty of leniency from referee Liam Moore at the ruck. Walsh snuffed out a try opportunity on the tackle after Yeo went down, knocking down a Herbie Farnworth pass to unmarked winger Tom Johnstone.
It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that the brilliant fullback — quiet in attack to that point — struck the first blow.
Reece Walsh swan-dives in for his opening try as the Kangaroos beat England at Wembley.Source: Getty Images
After the ball swept right through the hands of Cameron Munster and Nathan Cleary, Walsh fired a cut-out pass for Nawaqanitwase before receiving the ball back inside from the winger. The final pass looked forward, but Walsh couldn’t be denied on those grounds by the video referee and his flamboyant dive over the line was a sign of things to come.
Walsh was lucky not to be penalised minutes later for a bizarre play in which he ragdolled Farnworth off the ball as Josh Addo-Carr fielded a kick deep in the corner. It eluded Moore’s attention.
At the half-hour mark, Walsh again paraded the phenomenal defensive instincts that served him so well in the NRL decider. England centre Jake Wardle was running to the line on the left edge and had halfback Mikey Lewis in support on the inside, with one or the other bound to score; yet Walsh kept his options open on both and knocked the ball to ground when Wardle opted to pass.
Addo-Carr had yet another potential try for Crichton waved away three minutes from the break, when he collided with Young in mid-air on a high kick challenge; the Kangaroos flyer made no effort on the ball and clumsily clattered into Young’s legs.
Cleary kicked a perfect five-from-five and sent Australia to half-time at 8-0, after a late penalty kick capped an immaculate defensive performance. The floodgates were about to open after a relatively even first 40 minutes.
Crichton scores double at Wembley | 00:42
Crichton struck five minutes after the break with a remarkable solo effort. He split England’s defence on the left edge with minimal fuss, then made a 35m run to the line untouched.
Crichton struck again 20 minutes later to put the game well beyond the home side’s reach. Tom Dearden had entered the fray and a left sweep saw him pass to Cleary, who delivered to Munster, then the Melbourne Storm maestro dummied and found a one-handed offload inside for Crichton to again stroll over. He marked his second try by headbutting the ball, perhaps in a nod to a botched earlier chance when a snappy Gehamat Shibasaki offload hit him on the noggin.
Crichton’s remarkable double came in front of 60,812 spectators, a record for a UK-hosted Ashes match.
“They were into us, but it was good fun,” Crichton told the BBC, adding that the Kangaroos hadn’t lived up to their high standards in the performance.
“Not at all. We were really scrappy, I think competed 70 per cent in that first half, which isn’t good enough for Test footy. But what I did like was that gritty attitude.”
Angus Crichton scores his second try at Wembley.Source: Getty Images
Walsh’s second try was a marvellous piece of play from the Kangaroos.
Munster briefly held up the ball at first receiver, pausing the England defensive line before delivering to Cleary, who dummied for Crichton before finding Walsh. The fullback split the line, handed off to Broncos teammate and fellow Test rookie Shibasaki, who then made a perfectly timed draw-and-pass back to Walsh to score.
Walsh grabbed the Australian coat of arms on his jersey to celebrate. His past month has been a fairytale of the most outrageous proportions and he was named man of the match before the full-time siren sounded, adding to his collection after winning the Clive Churchill Medal just three weeks ago.
Reece Walsh celebrates his second try, which sealed his man of the match honours.Source: Getty Images
England got a late consolation try through hooker Daryl Clark through an Australian defensive blip.
The series continues at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium next Sunday and the Kangaroos have one hand on the Ashes trophy, in the first such Australia-England encounter since 2003. Australian referee Grant Atkins will officiate the second Test, perhaps tipping the balance further in the Kangaroos’ favour give that they might expect a far cleaner ruck.
“Our ends of sets were poor, I thought the best team won,” Wane told the BBC. “We can be miles better than that.”
AUSTRALIA 26 (Walsh 22, 71, Crichton 45, 65 tries; Cleary 5 goals) def. ENGLAND 6 (Clark 76 try; Lewis goal)
Attendance: 60,812 at Wembley Stadium (UK Ashes record).
Man of the match Australia’s Reece Walsh during a lap of honour following Australia’s win at Wembley.Source: Getty Images