Guildford bound for Black, says coach

Hawke's Bay rugby coach Peter Russell predicts selection in the 2008 Hurricanes Super 14 squad will be no more than a stepping stone to even higher honours for former Greytown schoolboy star Zac Guildford.
Russell is convinced Guildford has the potential to become an All Black, probably within the next season or two.
"He's that good, no question of that," he said yesterday of the 18-year-old son of Rob and Deb Guildford who consistently grabbed the headlines as Hawke's Bay shocked the rugby world by making it through to the semi-finals of the 2007 Air NZ Cup competition.
"Honestly I don't think it's a case of whether he will make the All Blacks but when."
Russell said Guildford's passion for the game was made obvious to him when he returned home from the UK as part of the highly successful New Zealand under-19 team.
"The rules were that we could ask any of that team to play in the Air NZ Cup but it was up to them if they did ... if they wanted a break then we had to leave them alone," Russell recalled.
"Zac couldn't say yes quick enough when I put the question to him and he ended up playing every game for us, he thrived on hard work"
While it was Guildford's blinding speed which constantly took the eye Russell said he was much more than just a fleet-footed winger.
"He's very astute, very clever at deciding what are the best options to take," he said. "And he's got plenty of good old-fashioned guts, nothing seems to faze him."
Russell, who coached Wairarapa-Bush to the 2005 NPC third division title and the 2006 Heartland championship, was "absolutely rapt" that six Hawke's Bay players were given Super 14 contracts for next season with three more included in the wider Hurricanes training squad.
"We always thought we deserved at least that many but you never know what will happen until the names come out, there will always be some are unlucky," he said.
On a personal note Russell conceded he was disappointed to not even get an interview for one of the Hurricanes assistant coaching jobs for next season but, typically, he doesn't want to dwell on it.
"All you can do is put your name in the hat and hope things go your way, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't," he said.
Russell said his main priority now was to maintain Hawke's Bay's position as a force on the provincial scene, something which would be made more difficult by the All Blacks probably coming back into the Air NZ Cup next season.
""It's great to have the current squad available again but we do need more depth on the bench and that's what we are working on now," he said.
The New Zealand Super 14 squads for 2008 are:-
(* denotes draft player):-
Blues
Ben Atiga (Auckland), George Pisi (North Harbour), David Smith (Auckland), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland), Benson Stanley (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Jamie Helleur (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Isa Nacewa (Auckland), Nick Evans (Auckland), Danny Lee (Hawke's Bay*), Taniela Moa (Auckland), Nick Williams (North Harbour), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Onosa'i Tololima Auva'a (Auckland), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Justin Collins (Northland), Bryn Evans (Hawke's Bay*), Kurtis Haiu (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Troy Flavell (Auckland), Tom McCartney (Auckland), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Bronson Murray (Northland), John Afoa (Auckland), Nick White (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour).
In: Benson Stanley, Jamie Helleur, Nick Evans, Danny Lee, Taniela Moa, Bryn Evans, Tom McCartney, Bronson Murray
Out: Doug Howlett, James Somerset, Sam Tuitupou, Luke McAlister, David Holwell, Steve Devine, David Gibson, Angus Macdonald, Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson, Chris Heard, Saimone Taumoepeau, Derren Witcombe, Sam Biddles
Chiefs
Mils Muliana (Waikato), Vili Waqaseduadua (North Harbour*), Sosene Anesi (Waikato), Leila Masaga (Counties-Manukau), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato), Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Callum Bruce (Otago*), Tasesa Lavea (Counties-Manukau), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Jamie Nutbrown (Bay of Plenty), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Fafili Levave (Wellington*), Sione Lauaki (Waikato), Tom Harding (Wellington*), Tanerau Latimer (Bay of Plenty), Hayden Hopgood (Canterbury*), Liam Messam (Waikato), Toby Lynn (Waikato), Kristian Ormsby (Counties-Manukau), Kevin O'Neill (Waikato), Jono Gibbes (Waikato), Aled de Malmanche (Waikato), Tom Willis (Waikato), Ben May (Tasman*), Ben Castle (Bay of Plenty), Craig West (Waikato), Simms Davison (Bay of Plenty).
In: Vili Waqaseduadua, Callum Bruce, Fafili Levave, Tom Harding, Hayden Hopgood, Kevin O'Neill, Ben May
Out: Roy Kinikinilau, Anthony Tahana, Niva Ta'auso, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Murray Williams, Byron Kelleher, Steven Bates, Marty Holah, Keith Robinson, Nathan White
Crusaders
Leon Macdonald (Canterbury), Scott Hamilton (Canterbury), Kade Poki (Tasman), Sean Maitland (Canterbury), Caleb Ralph (Tasman), Casey Laulala (Canterbury), Tim Bateman (Canterbury), Hamish Gard (Canterbury), Stephen Brett (Canterbury), Dan Carter (Canterbury), Andy Ellis (Canterbury) Kahn Fotuali'i (Tasman), Nasi Manu (Canterbury), Mose Tuiali'i (Canterbury), George Whitelock (Canterbury), Richie McCaw (Canterbury), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Reuben Thorne (Canterbury), Brad Thorn (Tasman), Michael Paterson (Canterbury), Ross Filipo (Wellington), Ali Williams (Tasman), Ti'i Paulo (Canterbury), Corey Flynn (Canterbury), Ben Franks (Canterbury), Campbell Johnstone (Canterbury), Greg Somerville (Canterbury), Wyatt Crockett (Canterbury)
In: Kade Poki, Sean Maitland, Hamish Gard, Kahn Fotuali'i, Nasi Manu, George Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams.
Out: Brent Ward, Paul Williams, Rico Gear, Aaron Mauger, Rua Tipoki, Tusi Pisi, Kevin Senio, Jake Paringatai, Johnny Leo'o, Jonathan Poff, Peter Nixon, Issac Ross, Chris Jack, Kevin O'Neill, Ben May
Highlanders
James Wilson (Southland), Paul Williams (Canterbury*), Lucky Mulipola (Otago), Fetu'u Vainikolo (Northland*), Brett Mather (Otago), Johnny Leota (Manawatu*), Niva Ta'auso (Counties-Manukau*), Aaron Bancroft (Otago), Mike Delany (Bay of Plenty*), Daniel Bowden (Otago), Toby Morland (Otago), Jimmy Cowan (Southland), Ezra Taylor (Otago), Stephen Setephano (Otago), Tim Boys (Southland), Alando Soaki (Otago), Adam Thompson (Otago), Craig Newby (Otago), Hoani MacDonald (Southland), Isaac Ross (Canterbury*), Hayden Triggs (Manawatu*), Tom Donnelly (Otago), David Hall (Southland), Jason Macdonald (Southland), Clint Newland (Hawke's Bay*), Chris King (Southland), Keith Cameron (Otago), Jamie Mackintosh (Southland)
In: James Wilson, Paul Williams, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Brett Mather, Johnny Leota, Niva Ta'auso, Mike Delany, Daniel Bowden, Stephen Setephano, Adam Thompson, Isaac Ross, Hayden Triggs, Clint Newland.
Out: Matt Saunders, Glen Horton, Craig Clare, Greg Zampach, Vili Waqaseduadua, Jason Kawau, Charlie Hore, Nick Evans, Callum Bruce, Josh Blackie, Hale T-Pole, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, James Ryan, Anton Oliver, Clarke Dermody, Carl Hayman
Hurricanes
Cory Jane (Wellington), Shannon Paku (Wellington), Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), Hosea Gear (Wellington), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Tane Tu'ipulotu (Wellington), Tamati Ellison (Wellington), Willie Ripia (Taranaki), Jimmy Gopperth (Wellington), Alby Matthewson (Wellington), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Rodney So'oialo (Wellington), Chris Masoe (Wellington), Jerry Collins (Wellington), Thomas Waldrom (Wellington), Scott Waldrom (Taranaki), Michael Johnson (Hawke's Bay), Bernie Upton (Wellington), Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), Craig Clarke (Taranaki), Jason Eaton (Taranaki), Hika Elliott (Hawke's Bay), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Tim Fairbrother (Wellington), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), John Schwalger (Wellington), Jacob Ellison (Wellington)
In: Zac Guildford, Tane Tu'ipulotu, Willie Ripia, Scott Waldrom, Michael Johnson, Jeremy Thrush, Craig Clarke, Hika Elliott, Jacob Ellison.
Out: David Smith, Lome Fa'atau, Tana Umaga, Blair Stewart, Chris Smylie, Brad Mika, Serge Lilo, Nili Latu, Luke Andrews, Paul Tito, Hayden Triggs, Tone Kopelani, Mahonri Schwalger, Tony Penn NZPA