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Batt stars in wheelchair rugby opener

Australia have enjoyed a big win to start the wheelchair rugby championships, easily accounting for New Zealand.

Ryley Batt
Australia's Ryley Batt contests possession in the wheelchair rugby world championship opener. Source: AAP

Captain Ryley Batt led from the front with 27 tries as Australia's Steelers opened their wheelchair rugby world championship title defence with a crushing 66-36 win over New Zealand in Sydney.

Batt was well supported by Chris Bond, who added 25 tries, and a potent defence that forced a massive 31 turnovers from the shocked Wheel Blacks.

Gold medallists at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympics, the top-ranked Steelers are defending the world crown won in Denmark four years ago and have not missed a major final in the past decade.

A veteran of 274 international games since 2003, Batt said it is now about building momentum as his men next face Sweden in their bid to be the first team to win the world title on home soil.

"Sweden are a really good, composed offensive team so I don't think we'll get as many turnovers as we did against New Zealand today. They are very controlled and very well-drilled," Batt said.

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"I expect a game that will be a lot tighter and they will draw it out a lot longer."

The Australians also face highly-ranked Japan plus Denmark and Ireland in their remaining pool matches at the 12-team world championships.

Four-time world champions the United States are in the other pool with Canada, Great Britain, Poland, France and Colombia.


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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