Caleb Muntz, the fly-half for Fiji Water Flying Fijians, delivered an impressive performance in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup final, leading his team to a 41-17 victory over hosts Japan. This triumph marked the sixth consecutive title for the Fijians.
At just 24 years old, Muntz stood out during the match and was named Player of the Tournament for his remarkable contributions. Although he has limited experience with only nine Test matches, he demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the final.
His stats were noteworthy, including seven successful goal kicks, 11 carries, and 10 tackles, underscoring his versatility and impact on the game. Muntz played a vital role as Fiji surged late in the game to secure a dominant win.
In a post-match interview, Muntz attributed the team’s success to their emphasis on fitness and their ability to finish games strongly. He noted that they had previously struggled to maintain performance levels in the second half, but recent improvements in their fitness have greatly benefitted them.
Muntz stated, “So, the last couple of years, certainly since when I’ve been in the team, there’s been a real focus on our fitness; being able to close games. I think it showed the fruits of that labour that we’ve been putting in over the last couple of years. Especially in this tournament, we’ve been more of a second-half team than a first-half team.”
He also discussed the challenge of facing a strong Japanese attack, which had averaged 48 points per game. Muntz indicated they needed to adjust their defensive strategies to meet this challenge. “Their (Japan’s) backline, they’re quick and they’ve got very good skills. Coming into this game, obviously, for us as a Pacific Island team, we’re known for our physicality, but we knew that especially on defence we had to be a little bit more structured and a little bit more together.”
Looking ahead, the Flying Fijians are now shifting their focus to the upcoming Autumn Internationals, where they are set to challenge teams like Scotland, Ireland, and Wales in November. Their first match is scheduled against Scotland on November 3.