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The scoreline alone offers concrete evidence of how underwhelming England were against Australia in the first Ashes Test on Saturday, but if anyone needed further proof, a glimpse around the Wembley crowd was somewhat telling, too.
As a one-sided contest ebbed towards a predictable conclusion, there were cheers among those sat near the press box. Not for an England try, but for a paper aeroplane crafted by a home supporter that had successfully made its way from the top of one tier on to the pitch. It was about the only thing that went right for those of an English persuasion.
The beauty of a three-Test series is that no matter what happens in the first match there is an opportunity to bounce back. But, conversely, England are already in must-win territory after their 26-6 defeat and the odds feel worryingly stacked against them going into next weekend’s second Test at Everton’s new ground. There was no shortage of effort from England and the promise that they would be motivated going into a first Ashes series in 22 years could not be questioned. But there was a critical lack of quality at any stage of the contest, which means Shaun Wane, the head coach, is surely going to have to make changes to try to keep the series alive.
“We felt like we were off the mark, so there’s a lot to work on,” the England prop Mike McMeeken said. “We were going toe-to-toe with them early on but they’re pretty clinical. Any opportunity they get, they seem to take it.”
Jack Welsby’s longstanding position as England full-back feels under threat. Welsby has had a difficult season for St Helens but had credit in the bank with Wane, so much so that he was a guaranteed starter at Wembley. But England have brought the former Queensland star AJ Brimson – who was 18th man on Saturday – halfway around the world after he switched his allegiance from Australia. To omit him again next weekend would be a grave error after Welsby underwhelmed in the first Test.
There will surely have to be tweaks elsewhere too, given the worrying lack of enforcement or aggression from England’s middles, of the kind we have been used to in recent years from players such as Sam Burgess and James Graham. What Wane would give for either of those two in his side next weekend. Canberra’s Morgan Smithies is the closest candidate to come in.
What will also serve as a great disappointment for Wane and his men is that the biggest-ever crowd for an Ashes Test in the United Kingdom were given little to cheer. Wembley was incredibly flat, with England struggling to deliver on the big occasion. “We’re disappointed with the result and the scoreline on a day like this,” McMeeken said. “Sixty thousand here, a pretty big crowd, and we feel like we haven’t lived up to the potential and the occasion.”
For London-born Kai Pearce-Paul, the feeling of frustration was even greater. “It was an amazing week and event to be a part of, but the reality is that we didn’t play to how we practised,” he said. “It wasn’t good enough; let’s not pretend anything otherwise. But this isn’t done. It’s game one, and while we weren’t up to the standard required we’ll go again.”
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England will have to go again, and they will have to up their levels significantly next week. Saturday was perceived to be the hosts’ best shot of victory with the feeling that they could catch the Australians cold in the opening match. Ominously, the Kangaroos have had their loosener now and there is little doubt they will be even better at Everton. The harsh reality is that the tourists never really got out of second gear on Saturday.
Throw in the prospect of a referee from Australia’s National Rugby League taking charge – meaning faster rucks, something the tourists are used to – and it all points to a tall order for England in the second Test. Wane has to respond, and he has to make some difficult decisions.
