Speight stings his former home
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Henry Speight was instrumental in the Brumbies 32-30 victory over the Chiefs but he has left coach Dave Rennie, ruing a missed chance to make the wing a Waikato man.
Rennie has come out strongly stating that Speight should have been playing for the Chiefs – but instead, he became the 'one that got away'.
Speight, who becomes eligible to play for the Wallabies in September had his chances in New Zealand previously.
He was educated at Hamilton Boys High School, and went on to represent the Waikato provincial team – the Chiefs' feeder club.
However, the Chiefs coaching staff in 2010-2011 'didn't rate' Speight very highly back then, according to Rennie – so it was the Brumbies who pounced first.
"He got away before I got there, unfortunately," Rennie told the Australian Associated Press after the 32-30 loss which put paid to the Chiefs chances of a third consecutive title.
"We spoke to him when I first got up to Hamilton about trying to get him back. We were pretty keen.
"But it's tough to see him move now."
It would seem near impossible to temp Speight back to New Zealand with him re-signing with the Brumbies for another two years in May.
Additionally, Speight is on the cusp of representing Australia.
Rennie continued to praise the lost Waikato son stating that he is more than ready for the international step up.
"Oh hell yeah. He's been ready for a while," Rennie said.
"You give him the ball, even with two guys in front of him he's either going to get yardage or skin people.
"He really troubled us."
Another coach full of praise for the Fijian-flyer was his own Director of Rugby – Laurie Fisher
Fisher was full of praise for Speight after they booked themselves a date with the Waratahs in a Super Rugby semifinal.
Fisher admitted his side has probably been guilty of not creating enough space for him in previous matches.
"He just seems absolutely motivated at the moment. He makes things out of nothing," Fisher said.
AAP
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