Gold Or Sixth? Steelers Still Uncertain At Canada Cup

A heavy loss to Japan on Saturday means the Australian Steelers now face a rocky road to the medal podium at the 2024 Canada Cup in Vancouver.

With the world’s top six teams competing at the final international wheelchair rugby tournament before Paris 2024 begins in August, the scenarios and final standings are seemingly impossible to predict.

Only the world number one ranked United States look out of contention for a gold or silver medal on Monday.

The other five nations, including Australia, could all still finish anywhere in the top six.

The Steelers had their chance to lock down a place in Monday’s gold medal final with victory over Japan on Saturday but faltered badly on the way to a 55-47 defeat.

It leaves the Australians now in the uncomfortable position of having to win their final round robin clash on Sunday against the Americans, and then hoping Japan beat France.

If that eventuates, it is likely the Steelers will play for gold on Monday.

If it doesn’t, other results will either send them to the bronze medal playoff or the dreaded decider for fifth and sixth – not the game they want to be playing less than 100 days away from a Paralympic Games.

Earlier on Saturday, the Steelers delivered a classy 47-45 victory over reigning Paralympic champions Great Britain to enter their match four hours later against Japan brimming with confidence. It did not last long.

The Australians conceded five turnovers to Japan’s one in the first half before they imploded in the second half, relinquishing the final five turnovers of the match.

It was enough to leave Australian coach Brad Dubberley seething at full-time.

“At the moment Japan are quite confident against us which is something we have to turn around this year with some bigger games ahead of us,” Dubberley said.

“That was not what we needed. We dug a hole for ourselves pretty quickly and then it didn’t get much better. Eleven turnovers to two, you’re never winning a game like that.

“I’m stating the obvious but conceding nine more turnovers than your opponents makes it impossible.”

Dubberley said he was now looking at the way his team responds to Saturday’s disappointment and how they work together to bounce back, particularly with key positions on the Steelers’ team for Paris 2024 still up for grabs.

“Our offence has to improve. We can’t afford to make some of the mistakes we made against Japan otherwise the US will punish us as well,” Dubberley said.

“We find ourselves in a must-win game now. Obviously it’s not the Paralympics, but we definitely don’t want to finish this tournament playing in the game to decide fifth and sixth.

“If we beat the US tomorrow, there’s still a chance that we can play for gold here and that’s what we need to concentrate on.”

The Steelers face the United States at 7am AEST.

2024 Canada Cup – Wheelchair Rugby

Richmond Oval, Vancouver, CAN

Table After Day 2

Day 2 Results
• JPN 50 – 43 USA
• AUS 47 – 45 GBR
• FRA 53 – 46 CAN
• JPN 55 – 47 AUS
• GBR 57 – 55 USA

Day 1 Results
• CAN 58 – 54 AUS
• FRA 53 – 46 USA
• JPN 47 – 44 GBR
• AUS 52 – 51 FRA
• USA 53 – 51 CAN

Australian Steelers – Upcoming Fixtures (times in AEST)

Sun 9 June 
• 4am – JPN vs CAN / GBR vs FRA
• 7am – AUS vs USA
• 10am – CAN vs GBR / FRA vs JPN

Mon 10 June
• 3am – 5th vs 6th 
• 6am – Bronze Medal Match
• 9am – Gold Medal Match

By Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia.

Published 9 June, 2024.