Sale Sharks flyer relishing today’s crack at Joe Cokanasiga>>
ENGLAND’s forgotten man, Denny Solomona, versus man of the moment, Joe Cokanasiga, promises to be a match-up to savour today as Sale take on fellow strugglers Bath at The Rec.
Both wingers have scored three Premiership tries apiece this season, Solomona boosting his tally with a double in a match-winning display against Northampton last week.
On the same day, powerhouse Cokanasiga was starring for England against Australia in front of a full house at Twickenham, scoring his second try in as many games.
While looking forward to the personal duel, Solomona insists he is more focused on continuing to deliver for his team after a slow start to the season that sees them sitting tenth in the table.
“It wasn’t the start that anyone would want, but I am leaving it there and moving on,” he told TRP.
“I’ve had a good game (against Saints) and I’ll just work off my momentum. I really needed that for myself, it was good.
“Credit goes to the other 14 players doing their jobs, it makes mine a lot easier when they do that, especially having the likes of James O’Connor, Sam James and Rob du Preez and obviously Faf de Klerk at the back of the forwards. If you’ve got talent like that you are bound to score some tries here and there.”
Solomona’s sense of relief at finding a way over the whitewash in last week’s 18-13 win – he was denied a hat-trick for blocking – will have done his confidence a world of good ahead of his battle with Cokanasiga.
“In every position you’re going to have a battle on your hands. Every team has a good set of wingers. As long as you win the little competitions between each other, I think you’ll be alright,” the 25-year-old said.
“Joe was in the England squad when I first started there so he has been in there and done his time and worked hard on the things that I am sure Eddie (Jones) has told him to work on and he is reaping rewards.
“He played outstandingly well in the Autumn international series, so it will be great to see where I am at against an in-form winger.
“I just need to focus on myself and just do my job when it comes to the day.”
With Cokanasiga bursting onto the international scene and Sharks teammate Chris Ashton back in the reckoning, Solomona has lost some ground in the England pecking order since the last of his five caps in June.
He says: “I’m not looking at that, I am looking at my own personal form. I will focus on England when the time comes. At the moment, it’s about Sale.”
Bath’s poor run of form makes it an ideal time for Sale to visit The Rec and Solomona says the Sharks will also be motivated by the memory of last season’s agonising 33-32 defeat in the Roman City.
“The boys still feel that. It’ll be a good game and hopefully we’ll get one back on them.”