\n<\/p>\n
After a bruising, hard-fought opening, Walsh’s try set the tone as debutant Mark Nawaqanitawase shifted the ball left for the rampaging Brisbane Broncos full-back to go over in style.<\/p>\n
England were unhappy as scrum-half Mikey Lewis appeared to be tripped in the build-up, and there looked to be a forward pass too – but the try was given following a review by video referee Jack Smith.<\/p>\n
Smith partly redeemed himself to the Wembley crowd by disallowing a second Australia try before the break as Dom Young was taken out by Josh Addo-Carr as he jumped to catch a high kick.<\/p>\n
Wane’s side initially responded well to conceding and defence-splitting grubber kicks from George Williams and Tom Johnstone had the green and gold defence on their heels.<\/p>\n
But Nathan Cleary added a penalty with the last action of the first half to put Australia 8-0 up – and they extended the lead straight after the interval.<\/p>\n
After putting the hosts under constant pressure from the restart, Angus Crichton strode through to score with full-back Jack Welsby too deep and allowing him to go through far too easily.<\/p>\n
Australia kept England at arm’s length thereafter, easing their way to victory in the first meeting between the sides since the 2017 World Cup final.<\/p>\n
That success was secured with 15 minutes remaining as second row Crichton scythed through the defence again for his second try, and more gloss was added when a superb field-length move down the left was finished by Walsh.<\/p>\n
Daryl Clark barged over in the final minutes for England, but it was no more than a consolation.<\/p>\n
A downside for the visitors was that captain Issah Yeo was forced off in the first half after failing a head injury assessment following a clash with Young. He will also miss the second Test on Saturday (14:30 GMT) at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.<\/p>\n
There were some positives for England.<\/p>\n
Williams and Lewis started as the half-back pairing for the first time, with Harry Lewis left out of the squad, and fitted like a hand in glove. Expect them to repeat their duet in Liverpool next week.<\/p>\n
There, England will continue a quest for a first win over Australia in three decades, and try to rescue a first Ashes series triumph in 55 years.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n