Few arrived at Elland Road expecting Britain to win. But not even the gloomiest pessimist predicted that their challenge would last precisely 45 seconds.

That was how long it took Australia's coach John Lang, via the kicking skills of his on-field general Laurie Daley, to expose Britain's most glaring weakness - full-back Paul Atcheson's lack of pace. Atcheson's name was still being read out over the tardy public address system when, at the end of a blistering first set of six tackles, Daley chipped into the yawning space behind the British defence. Atcheson was never going to reach it, the ball bounced conveniently into the arms of opposing winger Ken Nagas, and Australia were 6-0 ahead.

"That was the equivalent of a boxer being knocked down in the first round," admitted Britain's assistant coach Shaun McRae.

Atcheson was by no means the only player culpable for the first half avalanche of 25 Australian points. The second of two poor kicks by Bobbie Goulding conceded the position for Wendell Sailor to power through two British forwards for their second try on 16 minutes; while a poor pass from Andy Farrell, of all people, led directly to the third, as Ryan Girdler snapped up the loose ball on halfway and sent Sailor sprinting to the posts.

But on 28 minutes, the luckless full-back was exposed again. This time his opposite number Darren Lockyer kicked deep behind him and he ran the ball back strongly. But Darren Smith, a tireless loose forward and deserving man of the match, led the chase and grounded Atcheson with a superb low tackle, while Daley went high, dislodged the ball and picked up the pieces to score.

Atcheson had to be helped off with a groin injury and a mouth scar. He would rather have been swallowed up by the ground, an admirable performer at club level who through no fault of his own had been thrown in out of his depth.

Nor could one be critical of McRae and Andy Goodway for selecting him. Stuart Spruce, their first choice full-back, was ruled out of the series by an ankle injury while Iestyn Harris's back problem and Gary Connolly's contract with the Australian Rugby League robbed them of two more likely candidates.

It was a similar story in other areas of the team: how Britain could have used Tony Smith's pace, or the organisational skills of Shaun Edwards, in either of the half-back positions, which would have allowed Farrell to switch to his best position of loose forward. A pack including Farrell, Denis Betts and Barrie McDermott may have provided more resistance - but Smith, Edwards, Betts and McDermott were also unavailable.

However, before developing this explanation any further, it is worth remembering that this was not even a true Ashes series, because the Australians were only selecting from their Super League competition. They could afford to ignore all the players from the Australian Rugby League, and still come up with a team which, as coach Lang said, "just blew Britain away".

The message to emerge from this game is the same as that delivered so emphatically by the mass humiliation of last summer's World Club Championship, and before that every single Ashes series since 1970. The Australian system produces more, and better, rugby league players than its British equivalent.

It is only when the true gulf between the nations is exposed as it was yesterday that the scale of Britain's achievement in beating Australia at Old Trafford last Saturday can be recognised.

Similarly their efforts in winning the second half yesterday 1812, admittedly assisted by some erratic refereeing, could only be commended. There were two tries for Simon Haughton, who again made a considerable impact when introduced from the bench, and a beauty for Jason Robinson.

But it was nothing more than a token. Australia added two further tries from Smith and Robbie Kearns, two of their younger players, the latter set up by a stunning piece of handling from Andrew Ettingshausen.