All Blacks call up 142kg Tonga-born prop for Springbok Tests

The injury-hit All Blacks have drafted in little-known 142kg Highlanders prop Saula Ma‘u as they prepare for Saturday’s opening Test against the Springboks at Ellis Park.

New Zealand coach Dave Rennie called up 26-year-old Ma’u on Monday as an injury replacement for prop Ollie Norris, who has returned home with a knee cartilage injury.

Ma’u stands 1.94m (6-foot-4) tall and weighs around 142kg.

Fourth player heading home

The Tonga-born tighthead has made 58 appearances for the Highlanders and 40 for Otago, while he has also represented the All Blacks XV.

Norris is the fourth All Blacks player to leave the South Africa tour because of injury, following hooker George Bell, centre Billy Proctor and wing Caleb Clarke.

Rennie is also monitoring several other fitness concerns ahead of the first of four Tests.

Fullback Damian McKenzie is recovering from an ankle problem, prop Xavier Numia has an Achilles issue, while scrumhalf Cortez Ratima is nursing a knee injury. Noah Hotham has already been called up as cover for Ratima.

Unbeaten tour to date

The All Blacks have otherwise enjoyed a dominant tour, winning all three of their warm-up matches against the Stormers, Sharks and Bulls.

They dismantled the Bulls 50-19 at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, setting up an intriguing opening Test against the world champion Springboks.

Both teams are due to name their match-day squads on Thursday, with the first Test taking place at Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August.

Kick-off is at 17:10.

How worried – if at all – should the Springboks and their fans be?