Fiji recall Twickenham hero Caleb Muntz to plot another England upset

Caleb Muntz is back in the Fiji starting line-up for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with England at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, recalled after missing the 32-26 opening-round loss to Wales in Cardiff.

The 26-year-old fly-half is best remembered for orchestrating Fiji’s historic win over England at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium in August 2023 — a result that announced the Pacific islanders as genuine disruptors of the northern-hemisphere order. Muntz also started against England in November, scoring a try, though on that occasion Steve Borthwick’s side came out on top.

The Provence playmaker will reunite with six of the seven backline members who featured in that autumn encounter, with the only change behind the scrum coming on the right wing, where Vuate Karawalevu replaces Selestino Ravutaumada.

In the pack, the changes are more sweeping. Loosehead Eroni Mawi, captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere, and lock Isoa Nasilasila are the only three forwards to retain their starting places from the Wales defeat, while Jiuta Wainiqolo, Josua Tuisova, and Salesi Rayasi are the three backs-turned-forwards who also keep their spots.

Head coach Senirusi Seruvakula has been forced into some of those alterations by injury — outside centre Semi Radradra and tighthead prop Tim Hoyt both picked up knocks against Wales — but the majority of the reshuffled selection is described as tactical.

On the England side, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, Noah Caluori, and George Kloska are all set to earn their first caps from the bench, adding an extra layer of intrigue to a fixture that carries the weight of recent history for both nations.