Guildford makes big impression
With a strong performance at the national sevens tournament, Zac Guildford could play his way into a black jersey.
The former All Black winger is now playing for the Waikato sevens team, under the tutelage of Roger Randle, and impressed as Waikato won the Mount Maunganui Sevens at the weekend.
While no team has gone on to win the national title following the Mount event, Waikato are hot favourites and Guildford’s form is part of the reason.
He’s firmly on the radar of New Zealand’s interim sevens coach Scott Waldrom, but needs to continue to perform against national level talent.
‘‘He’s very smart on the field and knows sevens really well,’’ Waldrom said.
‘‘He’s definitely one we’re watching. At nationals [Waikato will] come up against Counties and a few of our contracted guys, so if he does well against someone like Sherwin Stowers and some of the other guys, we’ll certainly be looking at that.’’
Seven men’s contracts are up for grabs at nationals, as Waldrom, assistant Tomasi Cama and the new head coach as of June 1, Clark Laidlaw, survey the local talent.
Hookers, playmakers and wide men are of particular interest to Waldrom and company, given shortages in those positions.
A further three development or injury replacement places.
Should men show their talent, they could also earn a spot in a development squad which will be sent to two tournaments during the year.
For the women’s squad, New Zealand coach Allan Bunting has 11 contracted players out of a possible 20, and said he’s looking at handing out another seven following the national tournament.
A further two are likely to be split into training contracts, specifically targeting young, talented teenagers who could be peaking in 2020.
At the Mount Maunganui Sevens, Bunting said he had already identified several exciting young players.
‘‘We’ve had a pretty good look already,’’ Bunting said of the talent heading to nationals. ‘‘There’s not going to be too many surprises.
‘‘We were pretty excited by some of the players we saw at the Mount, and we’re keen to see them play again.
‘‘There were a couple of younger girls I’d seen at Condors.
‘‘I wanted to see how they’d look at senior level and they were great, so that was good to see.’’