A bit rusty, but unscathed. Words of hope for Australian rugby fans as ACT Brumbies winger Henry Speight made a successful return from the persistent hamstring injury he first suffered in the Super Rugby semi-final.
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Speight did not get the result he wanted on his return, with the Canberra Vikings losing 37-16 to Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
It means the Vikings will miss the finals in the inaugural NRC season, as ball handling errors and Brisbane's dominance at the breakdown proved costly.
But Speight got through 65 minutes in his first game since July.
"I was a bit rusty in the first half, 11 or so weeks out of the game, but on a positive note it was good to get through the game unscathed and play 65 minutes," he said.
"Before the game I was a bit nervous, not because of the game, but because of my lungs.
"All in all, I'm happy to be back out there. Just a pity we couldn't get the result, but just good to be back.
"The hamstring is all good, the Brisbane attack tested it out with a few chase backs."
He now waits to find out whether he is part of the Wallabies squad for the coming European spring tour.
The 26-year-old Fijian-born flyer felt he did enough to get a spot on the plane.
"I'd like to think so, to be honest, but it won't be an easy task and it's going to be a massive challenge and a massive step up. But I'm willing to step up to the occasion and meet it head on and just take it as another challenge," Speight said.
"I can only do what I can control and that was the 65 minutes I had on the park tonight.
"Now I just sit back and wait for hopefully some good news for the squad named during the week. I'm not too sure when, probably Tuesday or Wednesday, but it will be a nervous wait."
It was another Fijian who started the rot for the Vikings.
Brisbane winger Chris Kuridrani, the brother of Brumbies and Wallabies centre Tevita, made a break that led to the opening try to Jack Mullins.
Then a poor box kick from Vikings scrumhalf Michael Dowsett provided plenty of room for Jake McIntyre to make it 13-0, which was the score at half-time.
Speight probably should have scored straight after the break, but he could not control a long cut-out pass from Robbie Coleman, which bounced awkwardly for him.
Vikings flanker Jarrad Butler marked his 29th game of the year with a try, but a brace for Queensland Red Jake Schatz ended the contest and the Vikings' season.
AT A GLANCE
Brisbane City 37 (Jake Schatz two, Jack Mullins, Jake McIntyre, Will Genia tries; McIntyre three, Sam Greene conversions) bt Canberra Vikings 16 (Jarrad Butler, Allan Alaalatoa tries; Rodney Iona, Issac Thompson conversion)
