England out to “right some wrongs” at Everton and save the Ashes as St Helens man gives verdict

The odds are against them, but England’s veteran forward Alex Walmsley insists the Ashes Test series with Australia is still very much alive as they head into the second Test at Everton.

Saturday’s showdown in Liverpool is a must-win for England following last weekend’s 26-6 defeat at Wembley.

Having been out-scored by four tries to one, the hosts have it all to do to prevent the Kangaroos recording a 14th successive Ashes series triumph.

It is a tall order, but in the 1997 Super League Test campaign, Great Britain won the second game 20-12 a week after being hammered 38-14 at the national stadium and Walmsley believes England are capable of a similar turnaround.

The St Helens prop – who was among the substitutes at Wembley and has retained his place in England’s 19 for Saturday’s clash – accepts there was a “clear difference” between the sides during the first game, but – with two Tests remaining – insists England won’t give up the fight.

“Credit goes to Australia,” he said of the tourists’ opening victory. “They were clinical, took their chances and were worthy winners.

“We were really disappointed as a group, but it is a three-Test series and we’ve got the opportunity to bounce back this week.

“They are fast and clinical. The opportunities they had they iced and we probably left a few points out there. We were beaten by the better team and we’ve got to accept that and we’ve got to find some improvements.”

“Lot of work to do” in Everton Test admits St Helens prop

England boss Shaun Wane has made three changes to his initial squad, with Kallum Watkins, Morgan Smithies and Harry Smith coming in to replace John Bateman, Ethan Havard and Jack Welsby.

A full house at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the new home of Everton FC, will give England a boost and Walmsley added: “We’ve got a lot of work to do.

“We lost by a fair few points, so we need to find ways to improve and close that margin.

“There’s two more opportunities to hopefully right some wrongs and get ourselves back into the series.”

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