NEW Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens is disappointed and sad for Zac Guildford after the All Black winger’s latest incident involving alcohol at a beachside Rarotonga bar at the weekend.
“It’s not just an isolated case and it’s sad for a young player who is in his infancy as an All Black,” said Tietjens who, with Karina Craig, won the plate division of the mixed doubles in the Gisborne Masters tennis tournament, played over two days.
“I don’t know the full facts, apart from what I heard on the radio, but he has obviously got a real problem. It’s sad because he has been through some traumatic times recently, especially with his father dying in the circumstances he did.”
Guildford’s father Robert died while watching his son help New Zealand to victory in the final of the 2009 world under-20 championships in Tokyo.
“Zac came away with me to Delhi for the Commonwealth Games and I had no problems, so I hope he can get help and sort himself out,” Tietjens said.
Tietjens, a former Bay of Plenty junior tennis champion who once lost to former Wimbledon singles finalist Chris Lewis, said he did not get to play as many tennis tournaments as he would like.
“As well as coaching the sevens team, I am the general manager of the Bay Engineering company, and have been for the past 28 years. We have a staff of 110, so between work and rugby, I don’t get a lot of time to play tennis.
“I played a lot of tennis in my younger days but being No. 1 in the Bay was a lot different from playing in Auckland.
“I would have been lucky to have been in the top 15 to 20, and rugby was always my passion.”
The left-hander showed touches of class in the annual two-day tournament and looked in superb condition for a man who turns 56 next month.
“It’s my second time playing here and it’s great. The hospitality is fantastic. The people involved are so united, and welcome everyone with open arms. The new facilities are awesome and we have a lot of fun.
“A lot of the players here this weekend play in the Eastern Bay of Plenty tournaments, so it is good to catch up with them. That’s one of the things I miss when I am involved with rugby.”
Although in Gisborne to play tennis, Tietjens said rugby, especially sevens, often came up in conversation.
“I don’t mind at all. I’m happy that people are interested in rugby and how the sevens teams are doing or are preparing. I am a proud New Zealander and rugby is the national sport.”
Tietjens, who played 86 games for Bay of Plenty between 1981 and 1989, started coaching in 1994 and is in the process of negotiating a new contract that will take him through to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
As well as world series titles, Tietjens has guided the sevens to four Commonwealth Games gold medals.
“That has to be the highlight — all four Commonwealth gold medals. There is nothing better than to see a player get presented with his gold medal, hear the national anthem and watch the New Zealand flag being raised.”
During his 16 years as coach, Tietjens has guided some of New Zealand’s greatest sevens players, some of whom have gone on to the All Blacks.
The best?
“That’s a tough question.
“Jonah (Lomu), Christian (Cullen) and Rico (Gear) were exceptional players.
“Jonah probably helped launch my coaching career. He was on the scene in 1995 when we won the first of three Hong Kong sevens tournaments.
“Jonah had the X factor. He was big, strong, and had explosive pace.
“Christian was probably the most elegant, and his work rate and support play were second to none.
“Rico was another who stood out. I picked him from Poverty Bay and he had exceptional skills — the step, the vision and the pace. Rico won a Commonwealth gold.
“I also had his younger brother Hosea win gold, in Delhi, and he is another player I rate highly. He has power, pace and skill, and is a wonderful trainer.
“I really felt for him when he wasn’t picked for the rugby world cup squad.
“Not only was he the best winger in the country last year, he was the best winger in the world. I was glad when he got called in to the squad at the end.”
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