Tonga-Born All Black Saula Ma’u Eager For More After Dream Debut

Iliesa Tora
RNZ Pacific senior sports journalist

Tonga-born
All Black prop Saula Ma’u made his debut in the black jersey
in South Africa on Wednesday morning (NZT) and says he is
eager for more top international matches.

Ma’u was
called up as an injury replacement last week, and took the
field with 20 minutes to go at Ellis Park and helped the All
Blacks come from 35-17 down to winning the match
41-35.

Emotional and fighting back tears post-match,
Ma’u told reporters he was over the moon and would savour
the “unreal” moment for life.

“I was talking to this
guy before, like a couple weeks ago, I was back at home
playing for Otago, and then two weeks later, I’m playing for
the All Blacks,” the Havelu village native from Tongatapu
said.

“It just feels amazing, unreal, because
obviously there was always a goal of mine to one day to play
for the All Blacks.

“Just coming into camp last week,
just feels crazy to be in that environment. The boys been
making me feel welcome. The coaches just getting me up to
speed, and yeah, it’s a dream come true. And then obviously,
I I want more of it.”

Ma’u, born on 29 April 2000,
left Tonga when he was 15 and enrolled at Auckland
Grammar.

His pathway took him through Otago, where in
2021 he made the team for the National Provincial
Championship (NPC), before a call up to the Highlanders in
2022.

He has been with the franchise since and was in
the thick of things during the NPC over the last three
weeks.

Last week, he jetted to South Africa to join
the All Blacks on ‘The Greatest Rivalry’ tour as a
replacement for fellow prop Ollie Norris.

On Wednesday
morning, he came off the bench to make his debut, in front
of vocal Lions fans at Ellis Park, stating his first taste
of international rugby in the black jersey was a tough
one.

“It was a bit hard, tougher compared to Super
Rugby,” Ma’u said.

“Just the speed, and obviously
that’s what Renz (Dave Rennie) is hard on, it’s our work
ethic, and yeah, just working hard.”

Ma’u said the
scrum contests were tough, and he watched the Lions push and
dismantle the All Blacks scrums a few times from the bench,
before getting his chance to lock horns with them when his
turn came.

“Well, we’re just trying to focus on us,
what we’re doing, with how we’re prepping throughout the
week,’ he said.

“We’re just training hard, working
like many connections with hookers, back five, yeah. Scrum
came good though. Came good at the end of the
game.

“Credit to the to the back five and the work we
did throughout the week, and obviously Jason (Jason Ryan)
has been making us work hard in our scrums, like watching
videos of the other team, making sure we’re ready for what’s
coming on game day.”

Officially All Blacks no 1242,
said he just hoped he made his family and village proud
before he broke down in tears.

“I just want to say
thank to the Heavenly Father for the blessings he gave me to
wear the black jersey,” he said.

“Obviously my friends
and families back home, my partner, Mum and Dad, and then
yeah, just grateful for the coaching staff for the All
Blacks for allowing me and giving me a chance to represent
my family and my friends, and my village back
home.

“Hopefully I have made them proud.”

Ma’u
formed a strong front row combination with fellow
substitutes Bradley Slater and Xavier Numia as the All
Blacks maintained a perfect record in South Africa
tour.

Meanwhile, fellow Pasifika heritage players
Emoni Narawa and Rieko Ioane scored a double each in the win
against the Lions, while Noah Hotham got a try.

The
match-day 23 also featured Tongan heritage player Richie
Mounga making his return to the All Blacks since
2023.

The side was captained by veteran Blues captain
and Samoan heritage player Patrick Tuipulotu.

The All
Blacks have won all five matches so far, including a Test
against the Springboks. They face South Africa again in the
second Test on Sunday morning
(NZT).

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