Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson set to throw former All Black Zac Guildford a lifeline
Iain Payten
The Daily Telegraph
July 28, 2015 7:00PM
WARATAHS coach Daryl Gibson is set to throw a lifeline to Kiwi wing Zac Guildford by signing the troubled former All Black as a marquee import for next season.
Guildford, 26, played 11 Tests for New Zealand between 2009 and 2012 and the speedster was a member of the All Blacks’ World Cup winning squad in 2011.
Guildford played under Gibson at the Crusaders before leaving behind a turbulent career in New Zealand and joining French club Clermont Auvrgene midway through 2014.
After seeking an early release from the Top 14 club to return home in May, however, Gibson reconnected with his former charge and it is understood terms have been agreed for Guildford to join the Tahs. Contracts are yet to be finalised.
Recruiting Guildford for his first Tahs squad is a major roll of the dice for Gibson, with the youngster bearing a long history of trouble with alcohol.
Guildford admitted in 2013 he was an alcoholic after a drunken assault at a party saw him enter a rehab facility to deal with longstanding issues on the booze.
Guildford’s contrition and confrontation of his problems helped him narrowly avoid the sack by the New Zealand Rugby Union, who were fed up after years of alcohol-related incidents.
The most notorious moment came in a few weeks after the Kiwi’s 2011 World Cup win when Guildford was arrested after storming naked into a bar in Rarotonga, in the Cook Islands. Extremely drunk after a friend’s wedding and bleeding from a cut on his forehead, Guildford punched two men in the bar before climbing onto the bar’s stage.
Guildford had twice broken curfew to drink heavily after All Blacks Tests that same year.
Despite a pledge to not drink after Rarotonga, Guildford’s struggle with alcohol continued through to the 2013 incident and a month in rehab, after which he conceded he had an “addictive tendencies”.
‘‘If you asked me this time last year while I was still in denial I guess it would have been. But now I’ve been away, I’ve seen the experts and had help. I have a great acceptance of who I am,’’ Guildford said at the time.
‘‘My understanding was limited around alcoholism and the issue I had. That’s the first step admitting I was powerless over alcohol and once I realised that everything became a bit easier.’’
Guildford parted ways with the Crusaders last year after failing to crack a starting spot and took up a contract with Clermont. He sought a release two months ago to return home and be closer to his family and support networks.
Gibson was always a trusted mentor for Guildford and their close relationship will no doubt be crucial. Not just for keeping Guildford on the rails amid the many temptations of Sydney but also to rediscover the brilliant talent that saw him once rated as among world rugby’s most promising young players.
Blessed with incredible speed and a jittery step, Guildford debuted for Hawkes Bay in the NPC at the tender age of 18 in 2007, made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes the next year and in 2009 earned a first Test cap for the All Blacks.
He won a gold medal in the New Zealand sevens team in 2010 and played Tests for the All Blacks through to 2012.
Joining the Waratahs and a backline containing Israel Folau, Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley could be the spark to see Guildford recapture his best form.
With his past New Zealand options were limited for Guildford but his connection to Gibson, and NSW losing wings Peter Betham and Taqele Naiyaravoro to overseas, has provided a chance to start afresh in Sydney.
Guildford will take the foreign marquee slot held by Jacques Potgieter for the past two years.
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