Rugby: Guildford's straightforward career move

Zac Guildford sees himself fitting into the Crusaders way, of turning good players into great players. Photo / Getty Images

It might be a quote that reflects the pragmatic rather than idealistic nature of professional sport, but nevertheless it is hard to argue with Zac Guildford when he calls his journey south a good career move.

So that's it. There was no extended courting process. No surreptitious visits from Todd Blackadder to Guildford's Hawkes Bay abode. His agent rang him one day and told him the Crusaders were interested in signing a winger or two and he said, "yeah, that sounds good".

"They turn good rugby players into great players," Guildford said. "They have a history of creating All Blacks and creating winning teams. They strive for excellence."

Even though it sounds rehearsed - as if he's reading from a "Join the Crusaders" prospectus - it's off the cuff. You could say that he's achieved total buy-in to the Crusader way.

The admiration is reciprocal. When Blackadder is asked about Guildford's contribution to the squad, without hesitation he replies: "He's been absolutely superb. An absolute pleasure to have in the team. He's a great kid and has contributed straight away."

Guildford is no longer the raw recruit either, having toured with the All Blacks on their November excursion, earning rave reviews for his debut performance against the Welsh at Cardiff.

"I think I'm a better player for it, definitely," he said. "It's given me stuff to work on and I intend to do that while giving my all for the Crusaders.

"The lift in intensity to test rugby was massive. I was bloody buggered after 80 minutes against Wales. I was downing Powerade, energy shots, anything I could get my hands on in the dressing rooms after. The pace, the execution, the skillset - it was all a massive step up for me."

There are few people that will ever experience the range of emotions Guildford went through last year. On the day he was part of a New Zealand under-20 team that was crowned world champion, he lost his father, Robert, who had a heart attack in the stands while watching. An All Black call-up provided a huge fillip for a grieving family, though it could never replace the hole left by a father's sudden death.

Guildford, however, has gone some way to providing a permanent link between himself and his father.

"I've just got a Maori tattoo," he said. "It's my story. It's about my dad, my mum, my brother. It's about where I'm from. It is about Ngati Kahungunu and Ngai Tahu, my secondary tribe."

As it happens it neatly reflects his rugby allegiance, too. Ngati Kahungunu is traditionally centred in the Wairarapa, his birthplace, and Hawkes Bay, his home.

Ngai Tahu, on the other hand, is the principal iwi of the South Island, including Crusader country.

ZAC GUILDFORD

* Wing
Height: 1.82m
Weight: 93kg
Age: 21
Super 14 debut: 2008 v Stormers (Hurricanes)
S14 Caps: 18
S14 tries: 8