All Blacks: Guildford handles test nerves lying down

Zac Guildford says pulling on the black jersey has been a lifelong ambition. Photo / Getty Images

He was only 20, had never played for the All Blacks before. So the long hours before kick-off against Wales in Cardiff were inevitably torture for young Zac Guildford.

Er, wrong. Guildford prepared for his superb debut in the Cardiff test match - by going to sleep.

He was so relaxed, so content that he was about to fulfil his lifelong ambition, that the young winger fell asleep from 1.30pm to 3pm on Saturday afternoon (Welsh time) at the team's hotel in Cardiff. Two hours later, he was flung into the hurly-burly of test match rugby.

It was an impressive test debut, from catching high balls hung threateningly above him by the Welsh kickers, or making tackles or powering down the left, to set up the position for Andrew Hore's crucial try. There was not a lot Zac Guildford didn't do yesterday.

"It was everything I thought it would be and more," he said, as calm as you like. "The Welsh played with great spirit and that singing ... wow. It was really exciting to hear them sing, 75,000 people going nuts. That was awesome and a big difference to a 10,000 crowd back home at Hawkes Bay."

Hadn't he been nervous at all?

"After my sleep I was relaxed and more excited than nervous. I managed to get my hands on the ball early on and also make a few tackles so I was pretty confident out there.

"The high ball is one part of my game I've been trying to grow in for the last six months. It's a big part of the game now especially over here in the Northern Hemisphere where they use it a hell of a lot. But I was pretty happy dealing with those high balls."

Guildford admitted thoughts of his late father, who died while watching his son play in the final of the Under-20s World Cup this year, were never far from his mind on such a special day. They seldom are, he confessed.

"I thought about dad when I was in the changing room putting on my jersey. It was the fulfilment of a lifetime's ambition. Dad just adds the motivation and that is why I am out here playing rugby really.

"I grew up always wanting to play for the All Blacks. Even when I was 3 or 4 and people asked me what I wanted to be in life, I'd say 'an All Black'. So I guess it was a dream come true for me tonight."

Guildford played a key role late on to preserve his side's lead, tracking back to reach breakaway Welsh lock Alun Wyn-Jones. Ambition played a part in that too, he admitted.

"When I saw him get under way I thought, I'm not going to go down in my first test. So he was never going to get away from me. I had a fair bit of ground to make up and thought I'd have to tackle him. But when he went to pass it I just batted the ball down."

Coach Graham Henry's words completed Guildford's near-perfect day. "I thought he went very well, he should be very pleased with his first test. He was composed out there, enjoying the occasion. He was good under the high ball and saved us at the finish with that intercept. He had a good game."