Joe Cokanasiga's remarkable rise from performing the Cibi for Fiji at RWC 2015 to making England's 2019 squad
Joe Cokanasiga performed Fiji’s traditional Cibi war dance at the 2015 World Cup’s opening night, all the while thinking he would never play in the global spectacle. Just four years on he has forced his way into England’s 31-man squad for the World Cup in Japan and still cannot quite believe it.
England beat Fiji 35-11 at Twickenham to open their home World Cup on September 18, 2015, with Cokanasiga part of Fijian embassy efforts to showcase the Pacific Island. Now England boss Eddie Jones heralds the 21-year-old as “absolutely devastating”, with Bath’s wing powerhouse admitting he had to sharpen up mentally to launch his Test career.
“I was actually at Fiji-England on the opening night of the 2015 World Cup, for the Fiji embassy – we were showcasing our country before the game started,” said Cokanasiga. “I remember the vibe that night, and the whole vibe around the World Cup and thinking that I wanted to do all this one day.
“It didn’t feel possible, but now I am and that all feels a bit weird. We were performing Fiji’s war dance and traditional dances at the front gates at Twickenham. It feels weird having done that and now preparing for the next World Cup with England.”
Cokanasiga was born in Fiji but eventually raised in England as his father served in the British Army. The powerful and pacy runner broke through at London Irish and edged his way into England’s summer tour to Argentina in 2017 when head coach Jones was missing his British and Irish Lions contingent.
‘If you start tweaking with it too much it will probably ruin what is already there’
– @gloucesterrugby prop @FraserBalmain tells @heagneyl he can’t see what difference the latest @WorldRugby scrum law tweak has made ? https://t.co/9Hkkhl9JsO— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 22, 2019
Cokanasiga admits that tour proved an eye-opener on the real requirements of Test level rugby. “It was that tour to Argentina, I got shocked about what I needed to do,” he said. “I was quite immature at the time.
“I assumed everything would come to me, that I wouldn’t need to work hard for it to happen. After Argentina, I sorted myself out. If I really wanted to play for England there was stuff that I needed to change, mentality-wise in particular and take rugby more seriously.”
Cokanasiga’s devastating combination of pace, power and size have elevated him rapidly to the Test stage. But now boss Jones believes he must fight to realise his startling full potential, with the wily Australian coach confident he can hit those heights in this fast-approaching World Cup.
“He’s going through that tough period at the moment, Wales picked on him at the weekend and he has got to find a way to get in the game,” said Jones. “This is a great opportunity against Ireland to show that he can because the potential of the kid is enormous.
“When he has got the ball in his hands and when he gets his high ball catching right, he is absolutely devastating. These are the games he needs to learn how to fight his way through Test rugby.
“He is one of those kids who comes into Test rugby and the first couple of games, he is magic. Someone has blown some dust on him. Everything is good. Then teams work you out. It is like Test cricket. A team gets you out a certain way and then every time you go into bat, they’re looking to get you out the same way.
‘Northern hemisphere teams look threatening, Australia have shown they can beat New Zealand, South Africa have as well… it’s going to be good’
– Justin Marshall talks All Blacks, World Cups, bush rugby, grassroots and fear of spiders to @heagneyl https://t.co/X4FeQmos78— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 23, 2019
“Test rugby is the same. That is the big difference between Test and domestic rugby. When people see a weakness, they go at you and keep going at you. Then the development of the player is, ‘right, how do I fix this? And how do I get around it?’
“Joe is going through that process at the moment. So it’s good for him. The good players eventually always work it out and he is going to be a good player.”
– Press Association
WATCH: England boss Eddie Jones talks “fish and chips rugby” to RugbyPass ahead of Saturday’s match with Ireland
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments