Cokanasiga was a rare highlight in England’s lacklustre win over Japan but Jones is likely to axe the big wing for Aussies showdown

JOE COKANASIGA was an instant Twickenham hit in helping to spare England’s blushes against Japan with a try on his debut.

But the giant wing’s late flourish may not be enough to keep his place against Australia this weekend.

Cokanasiga’s introduction was the one success story from a game when Eddie Jones’s other long-distance World Cup experiments all blew up in his face, but the England coach appears reluctant to persevere with the 21-year-old.

The cavalry is poised to return against the Wallabies after the difficulties in overcoming the Japanese, and with Jonny May among them, Cokanasiga could lose out.

“He’s probably done enough to get on the bus. Whether he gets off in the first 23 I’m not sure,” said Jones.

“This was an important experiment in making sure that we have our best players fully fit for next week.”

Cokanasiga aside, the results of a stressful afternoon in the Twickenham laboratory were a series of question marks and red lines through everything England tested.

Jones (below) wanted to examine his options but Chris Ashton’s exit and the subsequent backline reshuffle meant Jack Nowell had only an inconclusive half-hour as a No.13, and the plan to try Henry Slade at fullback off the bench had to be scrubbed.

What he will now know is that, at 21, Zach Mercer is not yet an international No.8 and Mark Wilson, despite scoring his first England try in the second-half turnaround, will never be a Test No.7.

As for Alex Lozowski, he may never be seen in an England shirt again after being hauled off at half-time to allow for the emergency introduction of Owen Farrell (above).

“He is obviously a world-class player so if you put him on he is going to make a difference,” said scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth, who was also a distinct improvement on the man he replaced, Danny Care.

“When you are lacking that touch of energy and physicality, those are two things that Owen comes with in abundance.”

The jolt was needed after England had gone into the break 15-10 down having been dominated by next year’s World Cup hosts.

It turned out Jones only had himself to blame for Japan playing so far above themselves. Secondrow Wimpie van der Walt revealed it was the England coach’s pre-match threat to smash them which had done their team talk for them.

“Eddie said they wanted to physically dominate us.

“We have a lot of pride so we didn’t want to be dominated by them. That was some motivation for us,” said the South African-born lock.

Having seen his own players ‘smashed’ by their smaller opponents, Jones turned on them at half-time.

“It’s not like he’s screaming at us. But he is hard, he knows what he wants, he is questioning your character which, as a rugby player, is something that hurts – and so it should,” said England second-row Charlie Ewels.

“If you are not delivering, he can’t have you on the pitch.”