Big Joe must seize his England chance this time

JOE Cokanasiga on top form is quite simply a lethal rugby player. That is why it is so good to see him back in the provisional England squad for this summer’s matches against Scotland A, followed by the internationals against the USA and Canada in July.

- JEREMY GUSCOTT

Joe is a gifted, talented young man with all the skills to be a potent world-class winger. Now it is about getting a run of games again following his long absence with injury after the 2019 World Cup.

That experience of being in an England squad doing well in the tournament will have been invaluable – and for Cokanasiga and the other Bath players drafted into the 34-man training squad announced this week it is a great opportunity for them to make it impossible for England head coach Eddie Jones to leave them out in future.

We have seen Cokanasiga tip-toe down the line while switching the ball from one hand to the other, and then scoring in the corner. We have seen him lean into defenders and knock them over before touching down unopposed. And we have seen him create tries after taking a high ball like an Aussie Rules player and counter-attacking.

However, the challenge for Cokanasiga is becoming as good at reading where he needs to be in defence as he is in anticipating where to be in attack.

In that respect he is on a similar learning curve as Louis ReesZammit, and they could both have a look at the way Cheslin Kolbe has an impact on big games, whether he’s in defence or attack. Kolbe is short, but the South African is no walkover for anyone in defence, because he is tenacious and can turn on a shirtbutton to accelerate back and chase a ball kicked in behind. He can also anticipate that kick which is enormously helpful.

George North’s reputation was made mainly in attack, which is where any top-class winger should be making his name.