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Mils Muliaina and Lelia Masaga - Source: Photosport -
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His sense of humour matches his leg speed for quickness but new All Black Lelia Masaga says smiles were missing for a large chunk of his childhood.
Exciting winger Masaga makes his Test rugby debut against Italy on Saturday and nothing would warm the hearts of a small crowd on a cold night like a try followed by his infectious smile and a twinkling dance move.
Masaga's reputation as an entertainer-cum-prankster came through loud and clear when he addressed media today.
But the chuckles hide a sad upbringing that stretched from the Wellington suburb of Porirua to South Auckland, that the 22-year-old eventually felt moved to reflect on.
Having enjoyed rugby as a youngster, he gave the sport away for six years from 1997 when father Filipo died - the link too hard to shake from his mind.
"When I was little I would always see my dad on the sideline holding a $5 note, telling me that if I score I'll get $5," he said.
"When he passed away, I took it hard. I just focused on helping my mum out somehow."
Not only was there mother Ilui to care for but Masaga took it on upon himself through his teenage years to look after two younger brothers and a younger sister.
Making ends meet was never easy.
"I'd get lunch money each day. I'd save it all up and give it back to my mum at the end of the week and she'd wonder where I got all my money from. I wouldn't really tell her."
Times are better now. Ilui will watch Saturday's test on a flat screen TV.
Masaga returned to the 15-man code in his last year at James Cook High School in Manurewa and realised he had lost none of his speed.
"I thought, `I'm pretty quick, all I need to do is get in the gym'."
He rose through the ranks at Counties-Manukau and in the last two years has been an attacking sensation for the Chiefs in the Super 14.
The top tryscorer in the competition last year, he set a goal of repeating the dose this season before injury struck midway through.
Disappointed to miss All Blacks selection, Masaga was famously called into the squad when Rudi Wulf injured himself in Dunedin two weeks ago.
He was in customs at Auckland airport when he heard the news, getting ready to fly to Samoa with the Junior All Blacks squad.
He recalled how it took an hour and a half to convince airport officials to let him turn around and finally reclaim his bag.
In fact the man nicknamed "Flash" was full of storylines, suggesting nerves aren't exactly eating away days out from his biggest rugby day.
Examples abound:
- Asked if he had been working on catching high balls - a supposed weakness - at training, Masaga said he and captain/fullback Mils Muliaina had devised a game at training where the first to drop a bomb shouts lunch.
"In the All Blacks you have to lift your standards. Milsy's been shouting me lunch for the last few weeks now. He's been dropping one each time, mainly because I'm screaming in his face."
- Has he lived up to his reputation as a trouble-maker? Team baggage handler Errol Collins can apparently confirm it.
"Yesterday I was hiding in the corridor when one of the management (Collins) walked past. I freaked him out, and he screamed. I'd never even heard a guy scream, it was awesome."
- Will there be another "Masaga shuffle" if he scores?
"I don't want to do something and then see (coach) Graham Henry touch the earpiece (saying) `get him off, get him off'. (But) If you score a great try, you have to celebrate somehow."
- Life at primary school with former All Blacks enforcer Jerry Collins?
"He bullied me for my lunch."
Masaga said he wanted to bring colour to the game because of a personal belief that children were being asked to learn too quickly and some of the fun element of growing up is disappearing.
"A bit of excitement, a bit of fun, I've had that since I was young so there's no need trying to change that now," he said.
"For me I can balance myself now. I know when things are necessary and when things are not.
"Being the new boy, you have to find where you stand in this team."
