Smokin’ Joe declares he’s ready for Eddie
JOE Cokanasiga declared himself ready for England duty this week after inspiring Bath to a hard-fought bonuspoint victory.
Cokanasiga bagged a try from Jonathan Joseph’s perfect grubber and was a thorn in Newcastle’s side throughout as Bath overcame a second-half wobble to remain in top four contention and heap relegation pressure on the Tynesiders.
Further tries from Semesa Rokuduguni, Will Chudley and Francois Louw completed the job.
Cokanasiga said: “Towards the end I was blowing a bit but I felt really confident and I’m ready for the challenge ahead.
“Eddie Jones just wanted me to get some game time and be ready for selection against Wales. It would mean a lot to play because everyone’s excited and it’s going to be a big game.”
Rhys Priestland booted Bath ahead but Newcastle responded with neat interplay between Toby Flood, Zach Kibirige and Simon Hammersley before Flood levelled.
Dave Attwood took a quick tap that prompted sustained Bath pressure and a five-metre scrum, from which Zach Mercer, Chudley, Priestland and Tom Homer combined to send in Rokoduguni.
Flood reduced the arrears with a penalty but Bath replied with a peach of a try from Cokanasiga. Rokoduguni was the catalyst, taking Louw’s long pass before cutting back and leaving three Falcons for dead. Hammersley felled him but the ball went to Joseph, whose grubber sat up perfectly for his winger.
Cokanasiga was soon involved again, snaffling the ball from a ruck before bursting on to Mercer’s pass. Hammersley was again up to the task but Bath built further heavy pressure and, after Priestland found the corner, Chudley broke from the maul and rampaged over Flood for an emphatic finish.
Bath led 20-6 at the break and soon found their stride again with Joseph, Mercer and Cokanasiga proving hot to handle before Hammersley, enjoy a fine game for Newcastle in adversity, fielded another Joseph kick and hared down the left. He was hammered into touch by Attwood but Falcons quickly regained possession and Flood kicked to the corner. Falcons claimed the lineout and Nemani Nagusa finished the drive.
Bath suffered a double blow as Attwood departed (shoulder) and Newcastle were soon on the march again, mounting sustained pressure. Priestland cleared with a monster touch-finder from one 22 to the other and then slotted a penalty following a high shot.
Confidence restored, Bath went for the kill as Joseph combined with Roberts before Priestland sent Luke Charteris through a gap. Max Green’s poor ball to Mercer ruined the move but Santiago Socino’s dropped pass handed them a close-range scrum and, after Roberts and Elliott Stooke softened Newcastle up, Louw plunged over.
A fine afternoon for Cokanasiga got even better late on when he flew across the field to deny Sinoti Sinoti as he looked set to score.