Bath out to ‘win the Prem’ following thumping Gallagher Premiership Rugby win against Sale Sharks, says Joe Cokanasiga
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Updated 24/03/2024 at 18:26 GMT
Bath hope to claim the Gallagher Premiership Rugby title for the first time since 1996, according to Joe Cokanasiga, who starred in the club’s thumping 42-24 win over Sale Sharks. Johann van Graan’s side are well on course for a top-four finish to reach the play-offs and Cokanasiga believes Bath have what it takes to go all the way. “The aim is for us to win the Prem,” he told TNT Sports.
BATH, ENGLAND - MARCH 24:Bath Rugby's Joe Cokanasiga in action during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Bath Rugby and Sale Sharks at Recreation Ground on March 24, 2024 in Bath, England.(Photo by Bob Bradford - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Image credit: Eurosport
Joe Cokanasiga has insisted that Bath’s aim is to win the Gallagher Premiership Rugby title following their emphatic victory over Sale Sharks on Sunday.
Johann van Graan’s side won 42-24 in an entertaining encounter at the Recreation Ground to move up to second in the table and strengthen their play-off chances.
Player of the match Cokanasiga says Bath are aiming to go further than a top-four finish, and hope to go on to rival the likes of Northampton Saints and Saracens for the title.
“There were some worries in the back of our heads but we’re so good on focusing on what’s coming up,” Cokanasiga told TNT Sports, discussing Bath’s return to Premiership action following the lengthy mid-season break.
“The aim is for us to win the Prem, we have to take every day like that and that’s what we took today.”
Bath are in second in the table, two points behind leaders Northampton and with five matches left to play, a home semi-final in the play-offs is now a real possibility.
They extended their buffer over fifth-place side Harlequins to five points, helped by two tries from Cokanasiga in the eight-try win.
The 26-year-old England star feels he delivered his best performance of the season, but admitted “there is still more to come”.
“I need to keep on improving and that’s what I’m doing,” the wing said.
“Something we spoke about in the week was that the team that does well in the run-in is the team that gets together the fastest, that’s what we’ve been trying to do in the week, try and get the connection and you can kind of see that on the pitch, it’s all coming together.
“Everything was just clicking. You can tell, the connection between the backs and the forwards, especially with the forwards and the set-piece helped us out. You can tell on the pitch when we’re scoring tries, it’s good.”
Bath will have the chance to extend their lead over Harlequins and bolster their hopes of a top-four finish when they face Tabai Matson’s side next weekend, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
They also have to face play-off and potential title rivals Saracens, before hosting Northampton on the final day of the season in what is set to be an exciting finish to the campaign for Van Graan’s side.
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