Speight keen to leave on a high as time runs out for Wallaby star
Last Saturday, the first day of December, saw plenty of children open the first window of their advent calendar, the beginning of crossing off the days remaining until Christmas.
For Henry Speight, however, the day heralded a different sort of countdown. For this month marks the Wallaby winger’s last month as an Ulster player, a reality that really hit home after the Cardiff victory.
The 30-year-old’s short spell in Belfast will come to an end after the post-Christmas derby in Connacht, meaning he’ll spend New Year’s airborne and on the way back to his native Australia, where parent club the Brumbies’ pre-season will be just around the corner.
“I think over the weekend and you tick into the first days of December, it’s in the back of your mind that you don’t have much longer to go,” he said ahead of tonight’s Champions Cup encounter with Scarlets.
“The thought of it is a bit saddening in a way. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of this club and this province and this country, so my aim is to try and help out and contribute as much as I can and hopefully watching from afar see the boys carry on and make the province and the jersey proud.”
It’s been an unusual way to spend his Super Rugby off-season, but Speight has embraced the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his club-mate Christian Leali’ifano and spend a winter at Kingspan Stadium.
“Inthepastfewyears,I’d have been on the spring tour to the UK (with Australia), then December is usually time off before the next season of Super Rugby,” he said.
“But this has been a big eye opener, I’ve definitely learned a lot. There’s quality coaching staff with Dan (McFarland) and Peely (Dwayne Peel), Sopes (Dan Soper) and the likes.
“JP (Jared Payne) is someone who’s really transitioned into coaching really well, one of those few players who have taken to coaching like a duck takes to water. I’ve really learned a lot of things off them and in saying that, the players have been outstanding too, I can’t speak highly enough of them.
“The leadership group drives the standard from Besty downwards, that’s a great thing to see, and culture wise it’s probably up there with the best I’ve been part of, so there’s really something brewing here and, as I said, it’s a bit daunting having to leave a club halfway through.”
That an already short stint was interrupted by a frustratingly timed knee injury means that tonight’s contest will be Speight’s first exposure to European action. Indeed, next week’s return leg will be his last. Naturally, this competition is seen as a yardstick for many imports coming to these shores but, as Speight prepares to make his bow, he admits that Ulster have yet to see his best form.
“It hasn’t been where I want it to be over the last few weeks,” he said.
“But last week was a step in the right direction and hopefully I come on strong in the next few weeks. The injury hasn’t been ideal but that’s part of rugby life, so I’ll try and make the most of it in the next few weeks.
“This is obviously one of the big tests. You want to come and test yourself against PRO14 opposition but to be able to cross over to the Champions Cup that is another level. It tests your ability and it’s exciting to come up against quality players.
“These two games are very important, not just to myself but as a club and our position in the pool, so it’s a very important week to look forward to. We have a big challenge ahead of us but it’s exciting to be a Dan McFarland (right) has the luxury of naming what can’t be far off from his first choice starting side even if injuries have robbed him of some much-needed depth. Scarlets are a hugely strong outfit though and have brought some big guns back for the contest. The Welsh side desperately need the win to keep their quarter-final hopes alive and on their own patch will expect to get it.