England hopeful Joe keeping focus on Exile revival
POWERHOUSE London Irish wing Joe Cokanasiga is ready to stamp his mark on the Premiership and show why Eddie Jones was right to include him on England’s summer tour.
Cokanasiga, 19, was a shock call-up for Argentina after a breakthrough Championship season, only for his hopes of a first cap to be dashed by a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss the first six league games of Irish’s campaign.
However, Cokanasiga featured in yesterday’s Challenge Cup clash with Edinburgh and the 6ft 4in (1.93m), 17st 8lb (112kg) bulldozer is aiming to help Irish kick-start their league campaign when they resume against Saracens.
Cokanasiga told TRP: “It’s been really good to get out there again. It’s hard being injured because you want to make a difference, but I’ll hopefully get some game time now, play well, try to impress Eddie and get back in the England mix.
“But my first priority is with Irish and despite a few league losses it’s still a positive environment.”
Cokanasiga admits June’s England call-up was a huge surprise, explaining: “I got a call from Eddie saying I was going and was totally shocked.
“I’d been with the U20s and we were told four or five boys were being selected, but there was no way I thought I was going.
“I was nervous going into my first proper senior camp but as soon as I got there I enjoyed it. Everything’s so intense and Eddie likes everything at 100 per cent, whether it’s a just walk through or a fullon session.
“Then being in Argentina was quite an experience – I hadn’t expected as much poverty – and even though I didn’t get to play a Test after picking up my hamstring injury, it was great to train alongside experienced wings like Marland Yarde and Jonny May.
“You learn lots about their work-rate off the ball, not just in attack but in defence, and how they work off their wings and run support lines. You see the pace they work at and how you’ve always got to be alive and keep getting involved at that level.”
After showing his potential during Irish’s promotion campaign, Cokanasiga was handed a four-year contract extension. He added: “My main aim last season was break into the first team and to have my spot throughout the whole year.
“It was good to get that game time and being promoted at the first attempt was obviously a big achievement. It was such a great feeling helping Irish get back to where they belong and now we want to build on that.”