Joe has to step up and fight for Jones
FOUR years ago Joe Cokanasiga performed a war dance outside Twickenham as England kicked off the World Cup.
Today he faces a different sort of battle after England coach Eddie Jones demanded the wing make his presence felt against an Ireland team who need victory to go top of the world rankings.
Cokanasiga, 21, is included in what looks pretty close to England’s first-choice XV heading towards next month’s global showpiece in Japan.
But with wing rival Anthony Watson impressing on his return from long-term injury, the Fijianborn juggernaut requires a big display to reassert his credentials.
“Joe is going through that tough period at the moment,” admitted Jones after Cokanasiga failed to make a mark in last week’s loss to Wales, with five runs for just 17 metres and zero tackles.
“Wales picked on him and he has got to find a way to get in the game.This is a great opportunity to show that he can, because the potential of the kid is enormous.”
Cokanasiga, 6ft 3in and 18 stone, burst onto the international scene nine months ago when he became the first England player for four years to score tries in his first two Tests.
But he has found life tougher since opposition teams wised up to the imposing physical threat he brings.
“When he has got the ball in his hands and when he gets his high-ball catching right, he is absolutely devastating,” Jones added. “He is one of those kids who comes into Test rugby and, the first couple of games, is magic. Someone has blown some dust on him. Everything is good.
“Then teams work you out. It is like Test cricket. Teams get you out a certain way and then every time you go into bat they’re looking to get you out the same way.
“Test rugby is the same.When people see a weakness, they go at you and keep going at you. Then the development of the player is, right, how do I fix this? And how do I get around it?
“How long that takes is different for every player. Some work it out in a game, some take two years. But the good players always work it out and Joe is going to be a good player.”
Cokanasiga has already come a long way from the opening night of the 2015 World Cup when England played Fiji and he was strutting his stuff at the front gates representing the Fiji Embassy.
“We were showcasing our country before the game started,” he said. “It feels weird doing that and now preparing for thisWorld Cup with England.
“The most frustrating thing for me is I feel I have a lot more in me. I have more to show.”
A week after England fired blanks in Cardiff, George Ford and Owen Farrell have been reunited to feed the finishers. Cokanasiga knows what is expected of him.