Wheel blacks open with two wins in South Africa

The New Zealand wheelchair rugby team won both their matches on the first day of the Oceania tournament in Carnival City, South Africa.

New Zealand came from behind to beat Australia 43-40 and followed up beating Japan 42-31.

"Our first game was very messy but we managed to pull it together in the final quarter, whereas our second match was much better, albeit against weaker opposition," coach Grant Sharman said.

"We play South Africa again tomorrow morning in the last of the round robin and with the way the seedings are looking we could easily play them again in the evening in the first semifinal."

The winners of the Oceania tournament take the top seeding into next year's world championships in Christchurch in September.

New Zealand have already qualified as host nation and also as current Paralympic champions.

- NZPA