England vs Japan: ‘Special’ Joe Cokanasiga ready for his long-awaited debut 18 months in the making

On Saturday, Joe Cokanasiga will become the the latest player for England to bring a Pacific Islands influence when he makes his debut against Japan, but it could have been a moment that the giant wing enjoyed long ago.

Following in the footsteps of the Vunipola brothers, Nathan Hughes, Semesa Rokoduguni and Manu Tuilagi, the Fijian-born Cokanasiga will give England something they currently lack out wide among their wings. After joining Bath in the summer, Cokanasiga has lit up the Recreation Ground with his powerful runs on the wing and one-hand offloads and finishes, which put him back on the radar of Eddie Jones.

It will be a moment for Cokanasiga that will have felt like a long time coming, despite his his tender age of 21. He was one of the bright young things that Jones took on the tour of Argentina last year while the bulk of his squad were away with the British and Irish Lions, only to not play a minute of rugby.

An injury in the lead up to the summer tour, set Cokanasiga back in his attempts to make his debut, with Jones ultimately deciding that he was not ready for international rugby. But with 18 months of Premiership rugby in the bag, now is his time to shine against Japan this weekend as he looks to bring a sheer physicality on the wing that few others in England can replicate.

“He’s got a nice ball sense, he can throw an offload out of the tackle and he can find the line,” Jones said. “I think it’s always handy to have one big winger that can dent a line and there aren’t a lot of those playing rugby in England. We saw Joe playing for the Under 20s and took him on the Argentina tour. We wanted to see what he had; which wasn’t much, at that time. He’d basically run out for training and was exhausted.

“But he has worked really hard at his game, he has changed clubs and shown a real desire to be a Test player. We are happy to give him the opportunity this week.”

It is worth remembering though that Cokanasiga is still a relative baby in terms of rugby experience. He has played just 22 professional matches and has never played in front of a crowd that he will experience on Saturday, where another 82,000 fans are expected inside Twickenham.

But there has been enough in his performances this season, particularly in his double try-scoring display against Harlequins at the start of the season, that has convinced Jones to bring him into his side.

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“He’s just been playing consistently well for Bath and he’s doing things that are a little bit different all the time,” Jones added. “He’s toughed out a few games where he’s not been at his best, he’s got some knocks and he’s just hung in there and played tough all the time. It all added up.

“He came to Portugal like a different guy. It was like someone had put a new person inside the same body. He is really driven and wants to be the best he can be. When we took him to Argentina, it was fantastic for him to get picked for England but he had no real understanding of what it takes. Now he has that strong desire.

“We were always going to play him in November, we just had to find the right opportunity to play him. This week is the right opportunity – and he’s going to be tested.”

Evidently he has made a good impression on his coach, but he has also been noticed by his teammates, who by all accounts are pretty relieved that he will be in the white of England as opposed to Fiji, having first moved to the UK at the age of three and then returning four years ago after living abroad due to his father’s job in the British Army.

“I am glad he is on our team and not theirs,” said Alex Lozowski, who will start alongside Cokanasiga on Saturday. “He is a big physical guy who is good aerially and has a good feel for the game. He pops up in good areas, on shoulders and inside balls, so he is a good player to have in the team and everyone knows how physical he is.”

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Perhaps the man who knows him best is another first-time starter in Zach Mercer, who plays with Cokanasiga at Bath and is close enough to him that he’s nicknamed him.

“Fiji – that’s what I like to call him,” said Mercer. “We’re actually close mates and I’m his chauffeur when we are back in Bath. I am really proud for him. It’s something that me and him have both worked on – to take the field with him as well as Charlie Ewels and Sam Underhill is going to be a special day for me as well as Bath. It’s going to be a proud moment.

“He is very quiet. On the field, he is the complete opposite. The way he plays his rugby is pretty spectacular. It’s going to be a proud moment taking the field with him.

“Joe’s a pretty professional individual. It’s the first time he’ll have played in front of a lot of people. He’ll be fine. Look at his stats, the size of the bloke and his speed as well and he’s got that Fijian one-handed offload. I wouldn’t like to be his opposite number at the weekend.

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“I feel that, since Joe joined Bath, he’s really strived as a player, as well at London Irish last year. His game has developed massively. He has taken massive strides in his game this season and last.”

If Cokanasiga hits the ground running, Jones may well find himself with a tricky decision of not just who plays on the wing and who doesn’t, but who does he leave out oh his 31-man squad come World Cup time. With Chris Ashton back in the mix and in try-scoring form, Jonny May and Jack Nowell in favour and Elliot Daly at full-back, plus Anthony Watson to return from injury, any positive impression from Cokanasiga gives Jones a selection nightmare – which one does he leave out?

But having already been labelled as “special” before a minute’s been played, Cokanasiga certainly has a fair crack of making sure it’s not him.