Aussie Steelers through to Semi Finals - Looking for frist Gold

Aussie Steelers through to rugby semis | Sports News AAP Racing Australia

Australia's dominant wheelchair rugby team will take on Canada in the semi-finals after topping their pool 3-0 at the Beijing Paralympics.

The Steelers' unbeaten run included a thrilling on-the-buzzer victory over arch-rival New Zealand and comprehensive defeats of Great Britain and Germany, to earn a dream semi-final call-up.

The squad will be feeling positive, having beaten Canada twice in the finals of international tournaments, including last year's Oceania Wheelchair Rugby Championships, which earned the team their Paralympic qualification.

whats not to love about this sport?

The top scorer/player for the Aussies is an absolute machine and has the work rate that makes our loose forwards look like Golden Oldies Wingers.

thats so good :)

who is the guy who was bashing the kiwis up? the really really good one? i watched that game after the bledisloe and i was glad one of our rugby teams beat the kiwis

beat Canada in extra time 41-40
play the USA for gold tonight

anyone know what time ?

U.S., Australia to fight for wheelchair rugby gold at Beijing Paralympics

English_Xinhua 2008-09-15 23:36:20
BEIJING, Sept. 15 (Xinhua)

The United States, twice Paralympic champion, looks for gold redemption in the wheelchair rugby final against Australia after outlasting Britain 35-32 in the semifinal on Monday, while the Britons will play Canada for bronze medal.

The Americans won first two gold medals since the sport was introduced to the Paralympics in 1996 in Atlanta, but they managed only bronze in Athens.

The U.S. showed their world's No. 1 team quality with impressive control of ball in front of more than 6,000 spectators, including Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), once a rugby player of Belgium.

The IOC president was so impressed and showed great interest with the sport after the match.

"I like the sport. I used to be a rugby player myself so I enjoy it. It is close to rugby as it is a contact sport," he said. "I watched a game for the first time on TV last week and I enjoyed it."

American Will Groulx scored 13 goals to lead his side, while Troye Collins contributed 14 goals for Britain.

Groux, who won a bronze in Athens, said he was looking forward to his first individual Paralympic gold.

"This was the most important game (semifinal) for both of us, so there was a lot of pressure. But we have done our part to get us into the final. So now we just have to take it as it comes, do what we do best and play to win," he said.

In another semifinal, Australian "Magic Boy" Ryley Batt led his team to upset Athens silver winner Canada 41-40. The 19-year-old talent scored the last of his 23 goals with 7.7 seconds left in the overtime to give Australia in the decisive point.

Canada played aggressive defence throughout the game but failed of offence, coughing up nine balls. Mike Whitheead and Fabien Lavoie, who scored to tie the game in the last second of the regular time, shared a team-high 13 goals.

In the fifth playoffs in the afternoon, defending champion New Zealand found no trouble to beat host China 47-34 , while Germany harvested a sweaty 39-38 win over Japan in an overtime thriller.

New Zealand established a five-goal lead at the end of the second quarter and never looked back, though China played their best game of the tournament to even narrow the gap to seven points in the second quarter.

New Zealand will play Germany for the fifth place, while the Chinese will fight for the seventh finish against Japan. The hosts lost their last preliminary 55-38 to the Japanese.

"I don't believe there's a magic tomorrow, but I believe my players will not let the Chinese spectators down," said Chinese head coach Wen Yan.


Editor: Xinhuanet


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Still can't find the time for the game though...

Just found this site Paralympic Sport TV and you can watch the Paralympics live streaming for free! At the moment Japan & China are playing wheel chair rugby.

and a youtube of the Bledisloe of Wheelchair Rugby...[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EWv6XK6nTdY[/YOUTUBE]

on ABC2 sometime between 7:30 & midnight

go steelers!
they rock!

Bronze Medal Match - Canada V Poms on at the moment (8.20 Eastern Time)

we are on 2 hour delay---dont tell us the results!

Australia beat Canada 41-40 in the dying seconds

Go Aussie

Wheelchair Rugby Day 5 Review: US claims gold, Canada takes bronze - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

Just don't tell Larry

Photos of the finals

Photos: The United States wins Wheelchair Rugby Mixed Open gold medal - The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

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Originally Posted by Thequeerone

Just don't tell Larry

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Everyone who participated in this great event is a gold medal winner. :approve:

53-44...bugger for us. Congratulations to both teams though, it looks like one hell of a game to play and they certainly give it everything they have and put their body on the line. I have a new found liking for wheelchair rugby.

Quote:

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Australia's Ryley Batt, who managed to score 23 goals and give 12 assists.

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He's been on fire, every game I have watched or heard about he has been right in the middle of everything and scoring a great deal of the points.