Guildford shows how to go forward

The news earlier in the week that Zac Guildford would be making his debut for New Zealand in yesterday's test against Wales didn't come as that much of a surprise to anyone who watched the recent Junior World Championship in Japan.

The talented 20-year old Hawke's Bay wing was one of the star performers in the Baby Blacks march to victory last June, however, his moment of glory during the final against England in Tokyo was marred by the tragic death due to a heart attack of his father, Rob, who had been watching from the stands.

The Ireland under-20s arguably pushed New Zealand harder than any of their opponents during the tournament, and the 17-0 verdict was the fewest points the winners scored in all of their games.

The southern hemisphere sides have always tended to bring through young players quicker, and as Guildford was taking his senior bow, it's significant Leinster wing David Kearney is currently the only one of that Ireland side to have played at provincial level.

Joost a little too much for TV

South Africa's 1995 World Cup-winning scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizen had been at the centre of a controversy earlier this year when it was alleged he had featured in a sex video snorting drugs.

Van der Westhuizen staunchly denied it was him in the video, however, in his recently published autobiography The Man in the Mirror, he did a complete u-turn and admitted the truth. "I'm very, very sorry that I lied. Please forgive me," he told newspaper Rapport. The apology didn't cut much ice with SuperSport, the channel which had hired him as a presenter and commentator, as they promptly fired him.

Cameron's comeback

The peripatetic Cameron Jowitt has appeared on the radar again. After pitching up in Dublin a few years ago for a taste of easy-going club rugby, Jowitt was offered a full-time contract by Leinster and played his part for the province, particularly in the famous Heineken Cup quarter-final win in Toulouse in 2006, until he was released at the end of last season. He returned home to New Zealand and played in the NPC for Northland, but the 26-year-old is now on his way to Sydney after being signed up by Waratahs.

Scots make captains call

Andy Robinson announced last week he had appointed two captains, Mike Blair and Chris Cusiter, going into this month's autumn internationals.

Two captains, both scrum-halves? Anyway, Robinson also revealed with no little pride that there had also been a punch-up in training. Could there be a connection?