It’s now or never for tyro Joe, says Ojo
FORMER Red Rose wing Topsy Ojo has urged Eddie Jones to bin loyalty and give burgeoning Bath flyer Joe Cokanasiga his head during the forthcoming autumn series.
England coach Jones named seven potential wings for November assignments against South Africa, New Zealand, Japan and Australia, with go-to men Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Mike Brown and Elliot Daly joined by Nathan Earle, Cokanasiga and the returning Chris Ashton.
Cokanasiga, 20, is the junior man, but at 6ft 3ins and 17st 9lbs (112kgs) Ojo says his ex-London Irish teammate has the ability to give England an edge. Ojo told The Rugby
Paper: “It might be harsh on Jack Nowell and a few others, but we’re just a year out from a World Cup so now is the time to look at Joe, who has been the standout in the Premiership this season and has been electric for Bath.
“He’s still raw but he’s starting to show his true form and while May, Daly, Nowell and Brown will probably get first crack, there’s no point having Joe in the squad if you don’t play him – in terms of pace and power he’s got huge potential at that level.
“If a World Cup squad was being picked tomorrow the others would be in, but with Joe you don’t know what he can do at Test level so how can that be an informed choice? Why not give him a chance now to see how he handles it – then you’ll know for sure.”
Ashton returns to the England fold four years after his last cap and Ojo said: “He showed in France he can still score tries at the highest level and to smash the Top 14 try-scoring record was unbelievable.
“He’ll have been disappointed to have been banned and miss the start of Sale’s season but he’ll score tries at Test level and deserves an opportunity.”
Ojo, meanwhile, has no intention of hanging his boots up despite being in the autumn of a career that last week saw him equal David Paice’s London Irish appearance record.
Evergreen Ojo, 33, who should break the 290 mark against Cornish Pirates on Saturday, said: “It feels special to equal Paicey’s record. We agreed to take it year-by-year so if the club still wants me we’ll sit down and discuss it – the sooner it’s done the better.”