Muntz Hopes to Return for All Blacks Test Match

Drua first-five-eighth Caleb Muntz is hopeful of recovering in time to regain his spot in the Flying Fijians squad for the July 19 Test match against the All Blacks in San Diego, United States of America.

Muntz is currently under rehab for a serious knee injury he suffered, days away from the opening of last September's Rugby World Cup in France.

He had starred in the No.10 jersey when the Flying Fijians won the Pacific Nations Cup followed by the historic Test win over England in Twickenham. Muntz who will miss this season's Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition told SUN­sports that it would be great to be part of Flying Fijians squad again.

"It is the first things first, as I've to get better and get back on the field," he said.

"I just love the All Blacks, especially for me being a Kiwi. You know, it's always been when I was growing up there, it was the team.

"The dream back then was to play for them. Now I'm playing for Fiji. That dream is to beat them (All Blacks).

"It's never happened before and probably a lot of people don't think it'll ever happen.

"We're pretty confident we're going to put our best foot forward. It will be awesome to be a part of that. It's definitely at the back of my head."

Recalling the moment he got injured and lost the opportunity to play in his first World Cup, Muntz said, he was down for a while.

"That was when the injury struck but however I was fortunate because I do not keep thinking about it for too long," he said.

"Honestly, I've injured my knee before so I know the process of the whole thing.

"The bad thing about it is because you don't know when it's coming but the good thing is that you know what to expect.

Caleb Muntz. PHOTO: Leon Lord

"It did not take me long to get over the fact that I'm injured. It's my character and I guess that things like that do happen."

Muntz said life has to move on and by dwelling on the injury would make your recovery a little bit longer

"I understand the process of an injury, is that if you get hurt the best way to kind of get over it is to do the work (rehab) well."

He said there was a need to be mentally tough, to battle the effect of other negative thoughts.

"I was brought up in a nice environment. I didn't have many issues like what my parents faced. If I needed something they could get it for me.

"So, I was pretty blessed in that way. I guess for me, it's just that I've always been a happy person."

Muntz said while with the Flying Fijians he had learned a lot from players that have played for a long time and those that have played in different environment as well.

"All those European boys and even the opposition that you come up against, when you finish the games, you watch how they play.

Also you watch the things that they did. You won't be a fool not to learn from those things. So now it's been good," he added.

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