Australia vs England, Rugby League Ashes 2025 - Expert Prediction
Australia have filled their best 17 since they won the World Cup in England in 2022 and it will show in the Ashes series opener with the Kangaroos skipping away to a big one in enemy territory.
- Australia vs England, Rugby League Ashes 2025 - Expert Prediction
- Head to Head
- Australia Form Analysis
- Australia Team News
- Australia Team List
- England Form Analysis
- England Team News
- England Team List (Predicted)
- Australia vs England 2025 Rugby League Ashes FAQ’s
The Aussies will debut 4 players in the match but none more significant than the No. 1 Reece Walsh who will want to cap off his life-changing season with a star performance for the Kangaroos.
England are likely to fill a similar side to that which took care of Samoa last year, getting two very comfortable wins against the side that knocked them out of the semi finals of the World Cup in 2022.
Comparing sides and finding the right angle in the opening match of this series isn’t a straight forward process, but the class in the Australian side has put tunnel vision on my train of thought for this match seeing the versatile and fast-footed forward pack laying the foundation for the electrifying backline of the Kangaroos and points oozing everywhere for them.
So, I’m taking the Aussies 13+ and to go over their team total of 24.5 points. Tryscorers, well take your pick of the Australian backline, the most value for me is debutant Gehamat Shibasaki who will likely be on the end of some Reece Walsh brilliance repeating what the pair did all season. For England Herbie Farnworth is the man of course.
Head to Head
Australia holds a 16-7 head to head lead over England since 1909 with the two nations failing to face each other since 2017.
The last time they met was a 6-0 victory to the Kangaroos with the unlikely hero Boyd Cordner scoring the only try of the match.
Australia have won the last 13 matches against England, dating back to the 1995 World Cup when the Three Lions beat Australia in the group stage only to lose the final
All of England’s victories have come in England.
Australia Form Analysis
Australia went undefeated in the 2024 Pacific Championships, getting wins against Tonga and New Zealand and then beating the Tongans once again in the final 20-14.
The side that took the field in the final of the 2024 Pac is completely different to that that will walk out at Wembley on Saturday, in London with not one player in the backline being the same. The forward pack is much the same carrying a perfect blend of Queenslanders and New South Welshmen.
Australia Team News
The biggest news will be the debut of Grand Final hero Reece Walsh as the new No.1 for the Kangaroos pushing Dylan Edwards out of the side. Walsh’s connection with Kotoni Stags and Gehamat Shibasaki will be vital for Australia.
Along with Walsh & Shibasaki, Mark Nawaqanitawase will debut on the wing for Australia with Josh Addo-Carr making a return to the Green and Gold after injuries to Xavier Coates and Zac Lomax.
Payne Hass’s allegiance with Samoa means a new-look pack with Pat Carrigan and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui starting up front with Lindsay Collins, Reuben Cotter and Keaon Koloamatangi coming off the bench in what is a very versatile pack.
Australia Team List
1. Reece Walsh
2. Mark Nawaqanitawase
3. Kotoni Staggs
4. Gehamat Shibasaki
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Cameron Munster
7. Nathan Cleary
8. Patrick Carrigan
9. Harry Grant
10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui
11. Angus Crichton
12. Hudson Young
13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange
14. Tom Dearden
15. Lindsay Collins
16. Reuben Cotter
17. Keaon Koloamatangi
Reserves
18. Bradman Best
19. Lindsay Smith
20. Mitchell Moses
England Form Analysis
Since England’s shock semi final loss to Samoa back in the 2022 Rugby League World Cup they have gone undefeated, including getting revenge not once but twice against Samoa last October with two 13+ victories 34-18 in Wigan and 34-16 in Leeds.
England also took care of Tonga in 2023 with 3 strong performances and are a force to be reckoned with on their home turf.
Five-eighth George Williams is often the orchestrator of all things good for the Poms and is not afraid to run at the line either, picking up two tries in the series against Samoa along with 3 linebreaks, 5 linebreak assists and 4 try assists.
Herbie Farnworth will also be a danger of course, enjoying the challenge of coming up against his NRL foes again. The Dolphins centre also had two tries last year against Samoa, along with 6 linebreaks.
England Team News
George Williams and Harry Smith will likely be the halves pairing for England with stalwart Jack Welsby and Jez Litten completing the spine. One thing to keep a look out for is how Shaun Wane uses A.J Brimson, who has pledged his allegiance to England this year.
Mike McMeeken is a sure starter at prop with Alex Walmsley and Ethan Havard battling it out for the other starting front-rower position.
England Team List (Predicted)
1. Jack Welsby
2. Dom Young
3. Jake Wardle
4. Herbie Farnworth
5. Joe Burgess
6. George Williams
7. Harry Smith
8. Mike McMeeken
9. Jez Litten
10. Alex Walmsley
11. John Bateman
12. Kai Pearce-Paul
13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange
14. Mikey Lewis
15. Ethan Havard
16. Morgan Smithies
17. Matty Lees
Reserves
TBA