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“You’re not exaggerating”: The noticeable difference in first Ashes Test
SEN • October 27th, 2025 5:11 pm
Greg Alexander and Andrew Voss have pondered how much of a difference the interpretation of the ruck infringement rules between Australia and England had on the result of the First Ashes Test.
Australia claimed victory with a comfortable 26-6 win against England at Wembley on Sunday, with Reece Walsh dominant throughout the full 80 minutes.
But on SEN 1170’s Breakfast, both Greg Alexander and Andrew Voss think that if the game had been played in Australia under the NRL’s interpretation of the ruck, the Kangaroos' margin could have been greater.
Alexander: “How noticeable was it calling that game that the English interpretation of the ruck is far different to the interpretation of the ruck there?”
“There could have been 50 set restarts. If that was an Australian referee handling that game…”
Voss: “You’re not exaggerating.”
Alexander: “Under Australian conditions, the hand on the ball, the twisting, the turning of players.
“They tried to slow it down as much as they could.
“If Grant Atkins picks them up quickly, if he pulls them up and has them on the back foot…
Voss: “Eight tries, Australia.”
Alexander: “It could be 40.”
The Penrith Panthers great would then delve into the English squad, believing that the gulf of quality between the two sides is just too great.
“But if you look at that side, Ethan Havard, Darryl Clarke, Matty Lees, John Clark, John Bateman, Kai Pierce-Paul, he didn’t have a bad game, he offloaded the ball a few times,” Alexander elaborated.
“Morgan Knowles looks like he’ll be good when he comes to the Dolphins.
“But where would that forward pack, where would that rank?
“You’re picking seven Australian sides, team six would beat, I think this English side.”
The Second Test of the Rugby League Ashes takes place next Sunday (in Australia) at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.
Kick-off takes place at 1:30am AEDT.
