Rugby: Freescoring wing a tour prospect

Pace and finishing skills have earned Zac Guildford eight tries for Hawkes Bay as they overcame a spluttery early few weeks to sit third on the table for the Air New Zealand Cup. Photo / Getty Images

When All Black coach Graham Henry hinted a week ago that "one or two" rising talents could be included in the end-of-year Northern Hemisphere tour, who might he have had in mind?

Be sure that Hawkes Bay's freescoring wing Zac Guildford is there or thereabouts in the national panel's thinking.

A key figure in the New Zealand under-20 world championship-winning team this year, Guildford can't be accused of not pushing on in the Air New Zealand Cup.

Pace and finishing skills have earned him eight tries as Hawkes Bay have overcome a spluttery early few weeks to sit third on the table going into a crucial match against fourth-placed Bay of Plenty at Rotorua tonight.

Only Wellington's impressive Hosea Gear can match Guildford's tally, and he has been an important component in Hawkes Bay's 27 tries in their nine matches - more than any other team.

But the flying left winger, who broke into the Super 14 with the Hurricanes this year, isn't thinking too far ahead just yet. His mind is on the immediate job at hand - pushing Hawkes Bay into the semifinals and then beyond.

"Not for a second really have I thought of being on that tour," he said yesterday. "If I was, it would be an awesome experience and a chance to learn a hell of a lot from senior guys.

"But I'm just concentrating on my footy at the moment."

He appreciates that if things go well for Hawkes Bay, and his form stays strong, there could be rewards down the line.

Hawkes Bay coach Peter Russell has espoused a holistic game. Everyone plays his part and he's just as likely to praise those who secure the breakdown ball as the winger who, a few seconds later, speeds away on a 40m run to the tryline.

Guildford reckons his game is "about 80 per cent" at the moment.

"There's still a few things I want to fine tune. Yes, I've scored a few tries but it's only down to the work done inside and up front, the big guys getting front-foot ball.

"When the forwards are going forward then you're going to have some fun and maybe a bit of a field day. But it starts in the engine room and we don't go out thinking we can try the razzle-dazzle from the start."

Hawkes Bay kicked off with a rollicking 47-13 win over Auckland - and the first try for Guildford - before things went awry.

Losses to Wellington and Waikato and a 24-all draw with Taranaki cost them momentum. Guildford, who moved to Hawkes Bay with his family from Greytown when he was 10, has a theory on that.

"We just got a little bit complacent. We were off to a flier and I think we got a little ahead of ourselves. It's anyone's game this year and for every game you have to work hard," he said.

A 28-26 squeak past Tasman got things going again and they've won their three subsequent games to get on a roll. Bay of Plenty will present a determined obstacle. They have been among the pacesetters from the start. This is not the time to lose the plot with four rounds left before the semifinals.

"We could drop to seventh or eighth [should they lose] so for both teams it's a huge game. We've had a good training week and there's a lot of belief in the camp."

In tonight's other game, Counties-Manukau have their hands full, hosting Canterbury at Pukekohe.

They squandered a royal winning opportunity when North Harbour were trimmed to 14 players last week. Suffice to say Canterbury will be a step or two tougher than Harbour.