"It's crazy": Tasman's heroes' welcome home puts Ranfurly Shield heroics into perspective

Tasman's sensational last-gasp win over Hawke's Bay to lift the Ranfurly Shield for the first time has sent the region into celebration mode, with hordes of beaming fans on hand to welcome the squad back to Nelson on Monday.

The locals delivered on the occasion for the squad, who were still dusting themselves off after Saturday night's celebrations, filling out Trafalgar Square and basking in their beloved team's feats in a main street parade.

"There were quite a few beers going around," Mako fullback Macca Springer told SENZ of their post-game antics.

"We kept in as a team and we went to the local Lone Star in Napier. It was a big night, but it was a good one."

The turnout provided a telling reminder of just how much mana and prestige the iconic Shield still holds in New Zealand, remaining its most revered sporting prize.

While Marlborough won it back in 1973, the Log O' Wood had never been to Nelson, which was reflected in the enthusiasm of their proud supporters on Monday.

Captain Quinten Strange already had a chance to share the spoils with some of the "ecstatic" members of that famous team that caused a mammoth upset to beat Canterbury 51 years ago.

"It's crazy," added captain Quinten Strange. "You actually don't realise it until you get the Shield back what it actually means back home. What it actually has meant to this region.

"It's pretty nuts. People hold it in such high regard. It's just awesome to be able to do that and bring a smile to people's faces."

Springer's experience was much the same, adding: "We talked about it during the week but it didn’t kick in how special it was to some people. I don't think some of the boys understood until we got off the plane and saw the supporters at the airport and just the way they welcomed us home.

"Even that parade we went to, the numbers that turned out there - it was very special to have them there.

"It's just a great community."

But the Mako certainly didn't make it easy for their faithful on Saturday. Both the players and the fans were forced to sweat out a stressful final few minutes at McLean Park, where it seemed Danny Toala's sideline conversion may have helped the Magpies pull off an unlikely comeback win.

But there was time for one final absorbing phase of play, where the man they call 'Big Jim' - outstanding winger Timoci Tavatavanawai - pounced on a ruck to force a turnover penalty.

Replacement Campbell Parata didn't flinch for a second in grabbing the ball and the tee, then sending a 47m penalty over the black dot with time expired to spark scenes of red and blue bedlam.

Strange described it as a fitting moment for Parata, who has battled through a difficult stretch with injuries, surgeries, and recovery to create a moment that will go down in NZ rugby folklore.

"He's an awesome human being," Strange said of Parata.

"He's had a couple of setbacks the last few years with his shoulder and hamstrings, a couple of surgeries. He sat behind Mitch Hunt for four or five years now.

"He honestly just deserved that moment and I'm just stoked for him that he was able to get it. He's worked bloody hard to get himself where he is now."

Once they got the Shield back to the changing room, there were video calls galore to former teammates and Tasman stalwarts, with David Havili one of the first to dial in from South Africa, where he was on tour with the All Blacks.

Springer received a message from his former Crusaders teammate and All Blacks great Sam Whitelock, which brought into perspective how meaningful an achievement lifting the Shield really is. The most capped NZ player of all time lifted the William Webb Ellis Trophy a couple of times, but never got his hands on the Shield.

But the Mako realise they can't afford to let the celebrations last too long. They'll be immediately forced to put the Shield back on the line for their first defence against Wellington in Blenheim on Sunday.

The heavyweight showdown between the NPC's only two undefeated sides promises to be another pulsating encounter.

"We have to switch on straight away," Strange admitted. "Wellington is going to be a strong team, so we've got to front up to that any way we can."

Listen to the full interviews from The Run Home and Scotty & Izzy below: