Henry Speight has recovered from a broken jaw making him available for the Brumbies against the Cheetahs clash in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Speight is also itching to stake his claim for a long-awaited Wallabies berth with only five rounds plus finals remaining to prove himself to Test coach Ewen McKenzie.
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The Fijian flyer has been out of action since suffering a broken jaw against the Waratahs two months ago.
“Everyone’s aim is to make it to a higher level, that next step, but I have been out for eight weeks,” Speight said.
“I have to come back and prove myself with the Brumbies.”
Speight becomes eligible for the Wallabies from 11 September, meaning he’ll miss the June internationals against France.
He will be available in time for three of Australia’s six Rugby Championship games.
Players must satisfy the 36 consecutive months’ residency criteria to qualify for the national team, and the IRB issued a strict interpretation of the law.
“It’s taken a bit longer than the usual three years, but there’s no use getting frustrated over things you can’t do much about,” Speight said in reference to his season in New Zealand’s NPC competition with Waikato.
Barring any training mishaps, Speight will return to the Brumbies’ wing for Sunday clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein after flying with the team to South Africa.
Speight said he was ‘all ready’ to go after spending two weeks longer on the sideline than expected for precautionary reasons.
“He’s certainly a guy you’d just slot straight back into the team,” head coach Stephen Larkham said.
“He’s a player that keeps himself fit off the field. His body is still ripped.”
Speight’s return is a timely one, as Wallabies winger Joe Tomane will be out of action for up to eight weeks with a fractured cheekbone.
There’s also the fact that Speight excels in South Africa. He has scored five tries in as many matches there over the past two seasons.