Rugby union: talking points from the weekend action


Joe Cokanasiga will bring bulk to England’s backline and Billy Vunipola does the game a good turn

Already it seems likely Joe Cokanasiga will win his first England cap this autumn and the smart money would be on him doing so against Japan in the third match of the series. He has impressed since his move to Bath and Eddie Jones has been eager to add size to his backline for a while now, taking Cokanasiga on the 2017 summer tour of Argentina. Against Exeter on Friday, Cokanasiga showed how devastating he can be when finishing a second‑half try, albeit ruled out, but the 20-year-old’s inexperience was also exposed by Exeter, particularly for Don Armand’s try. England do not want for wingers but Cokanasiga brings some thing his rivals do not. Gerard Meagher

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Team of the weekend

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