Tongan prop Saula Ma’u’s All Blacks dream comes true in Ellis Park thriller against Lions

Saula Ma’u could barely hold back the tears.

The Tongan prop had just made his All Blacks debut at Ellis Park, helping New Zealand fight back from an 18-point deficit to beat the Lions 41-35 in Johannesburg on Wednesday (NZT).

For the 26-year-old Highlanders prop, the moment was the fulfilment of a “dream come true”.

“It’s been mean, coming into camp, boys, coaches making me feel welcome and I learn quicker just because the boys have been helping me,” Ma’u told Sky Sport.

He was brought on in the 60th minute, just weeks after playing for Otago in the National Provincial Championship.

He described the experience as “unreal” before turning his attention to the people who helped him get there.

“Thank you to the heavenly Father for, you know, the blessings that he gave me to wear the black jersey and obviously my friends and family back home.

“To my partner Nia, I know she’s watching at home, just thank you for your support, and also to my parents, Ma’u ha ‘ofa lahi atu. Koia pe malo [I have a lot of love for you all, thank you very much].”

Ma’u said he was “grateful for the coaching staff, for the All Blacks giving me a chance to represent my family, my friends, and my village back home”.

“Hopefully, I made them proud.”

All Blacks line up for the national anthem before their courageous 41-35 victory over the Lions.

His debut continues a strong thread through the new-look All Blacks, with New Zealand Rugby board member Caren Rangi saying the team’s Pacific players are increasingly being given a platform to tell their stories.

Speaking with William Terite on Pacific Mornings on Monday after the All Blacks’ 33-16 win over the Springboks, Rangi said those stories mattered to Pacific communities.

“And one of the little features, I think, of this current era, you might notice a lot more social media around the Pasifika players. And that's because there's been a combination of our great comm staff at New Zealand Rugby and Pacifica TV coming together to really shine a light.”

“And I'm just hoping that that gives the other Pasifika players a chance to tell their stories. And those are the things that resonate with our people, whether it's as aspiring players, as parents of players, or just as fans.”

Rangi also said the All Blacks’ success was about more than the head coach, pointing to the wider environment around the team.

Head coach Dave Rennie and stand-in captain Patrick Tuipulotu. Photo/Shaun Roy/Photosport.

“We’re on the, to quote my chair, on the right trajectory towards success, particularly in the Rugby World Cup, but the same with the Black Ferns. So really excited.”

She added: “the success of our teams in black is a combination of a whole lot of things of which the coach is certainly one big factor.

“But not the only factor, right? So it’s a matter of getting everything lined up quite nicely in terms of players, coach, management, the environment, fans. It’s a big, lot of moving parts in the system of rugby.”

On the field, head coach Dave Rennie’s side showed plenty of character after the Lions raced to a 33-17 lead.

“We had quite a few Test caps on the park tonight with a few experienced guys and a lot of young men who have played one, two or three games for New Zealand, so it’s awesome.

“They’re going to learn a lot from that. I think the fact that we had to dig deep tonight is important.

“They [Lions] come to play tonight, they got off to a start, they got the crowd into the game and at 35-17 we were under a bit of heat, so I was really, really pleased with the composure and our ability to grind out that last 30 minutes and finish in front.”

The win keeps Rennie unbeaten since taking charge and gives the All Blacks another boost before they return to Test rugby.

They face the Springboks at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, in the Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour.

For more information on the All Blacks fixtures and results, click here.