Support him: Zac Guildford
This week we will mostly be concerning ourselves with global expansion, internal tensions and our hopes for Zac Guildford...
As the road to England 2015 begins in earnest: the draw now made, coaches looking a lot more critically at their fringe players, tournaments a barometer for RWC form rather than for squad trialling, it's worth noting that it is going to be a different and expanded rugby world that heads for England's green and pleasant land in 31 months' time.
We have Argentina finally getting a chance to mix it with the best annually, something long overdue. Samoa's union looks to be able to swing a lot more clout financially than it did before and so use their best players on a regular basis. Pacific Island teams generally are looking more like complete and skilled teams than the free-running, non-scrumming mavericks we used to occasionally see in yesteryear.
And now, if the initiative pays off, perhaps you will be able to add the USA and Canada to that list of developed newbies.
The IRB's announcement of the accession of the Canucks and Eagles to the Pacific Nations Cup was not unexpected, but it's been quick in coming since conception and it's going to give both new teams, not to mention Eddie Jones' Japan, Fiji and Tonga some superb like-for-like competition to play in regularly. It can only be good.
USA Rugby is particularly getting its house in order. A domestic overhaul has flattened down the competition structure (the previous competition was a nationwide waste of money), while the coaching hierarchy - led by a local for the first time in several years in Mike Tolkin - is becoming more and more adroit at both picking out new potential talents (google Carlin Isles if you doubt us) and making sure they are set up in a professional side overseas where possible. There are still foibles over clubs allowing players to be available, but the elite squad is now a well-drilled collection of unified athletes. 'Twas not always thus.
Canada have been the better of the two down the years, although the gap has narrowed. There are also plenty of their players sprinkled among the European professional ranks, but there does not seem to have been such a focus on digging out new potential as there has been south of the border. But they are a strong and talented team with the current squad having been together for a long time.
Neither has really had, beyond a few tour guest appearances, a proper competition to use as bait for their best players to come back and play in. It has definitely unsettled the progress. But the Pacific Nations Cup will be all the richer for their presence now, as, hopefully, with these two teams be for having played in it. On the back of a good showing, what price their perhaps pulling a Tonga at England 2015?
Interesting times at Toulouse. Guy Novès will remain where he is until the day he shuffles off his mortal coil, while the concept of continuing to develop from within - Novès' assistants this year are both retirees from the past couple of seasons - has provided the team with continuity from the sidelines as well as on the pitch.
Toulouse's exit from the Heineken Cup appears to have woken up the passion in forwards coach William Servat, who declared on Thursday he was prepared to come out of retirement to help the team 'defend its title of champions of France.'
Most are sceptical, and with good reason: former players out of retirement rarely work out for the best, and neither do player-coaches.
Toulouse's pack has been hit by injuries on top of the usual series of international call-ups, but the grand old club has never been shy of chucking a few Euros to bring in a world-class 'medical joker', so for Servat to make this unusual step is a real eye-opener. Sideline frustration? We'll see, but Toulouse do look to be shaken at the moment.
Finally, a word of encouragement for Zac Guildford. An ugly struggle within his life has seemingly taken a turn for the even more serious, with his rugby career now on hold as he bids finally to conquer the demon drink.
Guildford's ride has not been the smoothest. He's had to cope with the loss of an influential father in some desperately unfortunate circumstances, and then fought the attention which comes with being one of a rugby-mad country's brightest prospects.
Being a professional rugby player takes an extraordinary amount of discipline. The abstinences, training regimes, responsibilities, amounts of money placed in the hands of young men... it's a pressure few of us could understand properly. Guildford, accelerated into the limelight as a teenager and suddenly without his father for guidance, simply seems not to have been able to take it, to have never have been at ease enough with himself to find a better way through the boredom than drinking well beyond his limits.
We hope he can this time. At 23 - or 24 as he could be when he resumes playing - he still has time on his side. He is not the only or first player to discover an issue with drink, nor would he be the first to seek counselling. If he comes back to the game, he won't be the first to do that, nor would he be the first to lose this particular fight.
There's nothing to offer to him now other than to encourage him and support him going forward. Whatever he's done, he's done... but there are a lot of youtube clips bearing testament to an excellent rugby player; a lot more of those than there are newspaper clippings sensationalising a misguided youngster getting into trouble. Hopefully we get the former of those two back soon enough.
Loose Pass compiled by Richard Anderson
Comments
APV1 says...
@ chancer - we are just picking up on your daft comments. If you can't take a bit of ribbing, then don't post nonsense. On one hand you're complaining that PR is only commenting on this one person and you've not seen it elsewhere, yet on the other you're saying you haven't looked elsewhere. Life isn't spoon-fed.
"Not the first player to make the wrong choices in life, a pity loose pass only writes about this one, another example of NZ bias??"
Tosh and nonsense.
"I made my comment because when only one player is mentioned in an article about personal problems, then it suggests bias. His problems may have been in the media but I have never seen any article in a serious newspaper yet."
Why don't you actually pick up a newspaper or look on other sites?
"I am sure if I felt the need I could research all kinds of obscure facts,"
If you only ever read PR, you'll only ever get their stories.
The world is your oyster, my friend, seek and ye shall find.
And PR does post about other people in similar trouble. Let's take Danny Care as a good example, from about this time last year:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7435849,00.html
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7569902,00.html
Stop being so sensitive when you're clearly wrong. Take it on the chin and move on.
Posted 17:04 30th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ markpat - fair point and well made.
(And remind me to refuse any kind offers to pop round for a brew at yours!!)
Posted 15:28 30th January 2013
chancer says...
Forgive me APV1, some of us have a life outside of the internet, I am sure if I felt the need I could research all kinds of obscure facts, and if I had nothing better to do. instead of making denigrating comments I would suggest that you realise that other people have a different sense of what is important.
Posted 14:56 30th January 2013
markpat says...
@thelawney - as far as I'm aware, Danny Care didn't attaack anyone did he?
No, I don't live in NZ, which is why I asked the question, rather than stated facts.
@APV1, I was under the impression that he sought counselling after the previous occasion when he was kicked out of the NZ squad for assaulting someone. That got the deserved sympathy, he has then made the same mistake(s) again? Yes, alcoholism is an illness, but the day-to-day alcoholic isn't given a big cuddle when they attack someone, so why should a celebrity be?
And, yes, he lost his father. As per the article (as I can only base my views on what is reported) "Guildford, accelerated into the limelight as a teenager and suddenly without his father for guidance, simply seems not to have been able to take it, to have never have been at ease enough with himself to find a better way through the boredom than drinking well beyond his limits." - many people lose their parents on much worse situations than having too much money, fame and spare time, yet they don't get international sympathy.
I'm sorry, but for me, "stars" who go off the rails because they can't handle the fame/money don't deserve any more sympathy than the drunk old guy who lived across the road from me until he died (and, in fact, he probably deserved more sympathy because he had a more difficult life) until they sort themselves out, then they can get all the plaudits that I give to the recovered drug addict who lives next door to me (and yes, I live in a rubbish street!).
Posted 13:16 30th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ all - it is obvious that chancer doen't have access to any other media, other than PR. If he did, he would realise that there are plenty of other articles, blogs and comments about ZG's plight all over the place. A very quick search threw out stuff from all corners of the globe. So please be gentle with poor ickle chancer - he doesn't get out and has very limited web access. When his carers take the Parental Lock of his computer and allow him back into society, he'll need our support.
@ markpat - I agree that people need to face up to their actions and accept the consequences but, as some have mentioned, this could be an illness, rather than a daft lapse of judgement.
Posted 11:13 30th January 2013
trelawney says...
@chancer - you said NZ bias. Have you read about Danny Care (Harlequins & England) who had a similar problem (twice). he saught help, and received it. Zac has saught help and is receiving it. Please could you read the article about him again, it says that he lost his father at the time when he most needed his father's help.
@Markpat I do believe that he received appropriate punishment. Why don't you read your local papers if you are in NZ?
Posted 22:41 29th January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Re: the part about USA and Canada's inclusion in the Pacific Nations Cup. In years passed the only chance for an American or Canadian player to shine on the world stage and earn a professional contract in Europe or Japan has been the RWC every 4 years. It's incredible to know that every year this tournament will give those teams a chance to play with the world watching and expose more of their talent to the scouts of big time clubs thus bettering their respective national sides. Wonderful news. Wonderful opportunities.
Posted 20:17 29th January 2013
markpat says...
I'm sorry, but if I understand it correctly, his "personal demons" have had a physical effect on innocent parties? For non-celebrities, that would result in punishment, not nationwide sympathy.
Not saying he should be thrown under a bus or anything, but he should be treated as normal individuals with drinking problems are and not have his indiscretions swept under the carpet. I have way more sympathy with the person whose alcohol problems come from a real pressure situation, rather than somone whose pressure is "too much fame and money for his age"!
As a rugby player, yes, I'd love watching him play,
Posted 15:55 29th January 2013
chancer says...
I made my comment because when only one player is mentioned in an article about personal problems, then it suggests bias. His problems may have been in the media but I have never seen any article in a serious newspaper yet.
Of course the individual deserves our good wishes and support the same as all sportspersons who have problems but please lets not get carried away or suggest his is a special case. If you regard my opinion as childish, I suppose we are all entitled to an opinion, thats what this forum is for.
Posted 13:54 29th January 2013
TVaddict says...
Good article. Another topic could have been what feels like an increasing large injury list among international players. Is it just me or is it getting more and more frequent for a big batch of international players to be unavailable?
Posted 23:07 28th January 2013
Isograford says...
@chancer NZ Bias how exactly?
Posted 19:36 28th January 2013
Iyhel says...
Re. Servat, he has already played 7 or 8 times this season due to injuries or suspensions of Toulouse hookers and he did not disappoint. You could easily think he's still the best Toulouse and France hooker by far - and especially in Toulouse, Botha hasn't really shined up to now.
That said, any rumor coming from the French press should be taken with a special dose of salt...
Posted 13:54 28th January 2013
KingShark says...
Well said, Richard.
Re Zac: I would hate it if we don't get the opportunity to compete against him again. It is classy opposition that makes the matches worth watching. All the best to him.
Posted 12:18 28th January 2013
melkdave says...
Have to agree best loose pass for sometime,no pot stiring ect Also have to say the IRB are following through on what they say,and the so called Teir 2 nations are getting the proper support they need and want ,so they can improveI would also like the likes of Georgia ,Romainia Russia,Usa and Canada ect,given regular games against the 6Ns countries ,perhaps the 3rd test team spot in the aurtum could go to them.So what if they gett a couple of thrashings to start,Samoa ,Fiji Tonga regually got thrashed by NZ/ OZ to start with.But in a few years they improved a hell of alot and now are capable of giving NZ /OZ decent games and even wining.I feel this would improve european rugby overall quickly.While the 6Ns teams play Samoa,Fiji,Tonga ,Argentina on their summer tours along with the tests against the SH big 3
As to Toulouse im sure they ,will be back sooner rather than later,after all they have the prestigous club name and a very healthy bank roll.
Last ly all the best to Z.Guilford,hope he is able to conquer his demons ,and returns to playing top class rugby,Also lets remember theirs other players maybe not as well known /famous who are battling their own demons
Posted 12:05 28th January 2013
APV1 says...
Has Richard Anderson been replaced by a ghost-writer? Where's the usual pot-stiring?
All three sections make sense and I agree with the take on them all. Even as one of the more argumentative posters, I'm struggling to find any issues - thank you.
@ chancer - ZG's recent troubles have been in the media, which is why they have become the topic of discussion. As were other players when they had issues.
Posted 10:57 28th January 2013
comeonletsplay says...
@ chancer - what are you on son..........bias............are you totally mad!
In what world is that a bias article and frankly that comment is totally out of order and a tad childish.
The global rugby community wishes him all the best (chancer you must support soccer) and hope he conquers his demons.
Posted 10:31 28th January 2013
fozza says...
Best of Luck Zac, huge talent, exceptionally brave to take this step rather than just bolting for another hemisphere and trying to cover it up.
Posted 09:54 28th January 2013
mlbp says...
Excellent comment, Mr Anderson. Guildford needs and deserves the pundits', fans' and fellow players' support not only as a rugby player but as a human being. I hope he reads your Loose Pass column and all the support posts we will be for sure writing here.
Posted 08:36 28th January 2013
chancer says...
Not the first player to make the wrong choices in life, a pity loose pass only writes about this one, another example of NZ bias??
Posted 08:07 28th January 2013
JayStarr says...
Best written Loose Pass in ages. And couldn't have said it better regarding Zac...
I hope he gets to the root of his problems, deals with them and finds his way back to rugby, because he is one of my favourite players and I would hate to see him be brought down like this. His positional play for the Crusaders was something to behold - there are few wingers who can read a game as well as he can. I would sometimes just watch him, floating around the field like a hawk steeling for a prey, trying to spot the next potential opportunity, and then suddenly putting the foot down and popping up at the right time in the right place and finishing/creating a try... Incredible instinct for the game.
Best of luck Zac, hope to see you back on the field soon mate.
Posted 06:44 28th January 2013