Tongan pair Cocker and Apikotoa on their way to inspire Cov

TONGAN international fly-half Fangatapu Apikotoa arrives at the Butts Park Arena tomorrow to add momentum to Coventry’s Championship challenge which began with a 21-12 home win over Rotherham. The 25-year-old No 10, who has made 20 Test appearances, will come straight into the reckoning for the side to play Bedford at Goldington Road on Saturday. Back row forward John Cocker – a Tonga

sevens cap – is set to arrive on September 22, but Cov have been forced to abandon plans to bring in Samoan centre Paletuatoa Toelupe due to a change in employment regulations for players outside the Premiership.

“Missing out on Pale is disappointing, but the other two will add strength and experience in key areas and I’m pleased that it’s been sorted,” said rugby director Phil Maynard, who was also delighted with Cov’s winning start.

“It was a good result for us on Friday with a new side that is still putting building blocks in place,” he said. “If I was being critical, I think we left our game in the changing room for the first 30 minutes which were pretty woeful. We weren’t winning our set piece and had no steady platform to launch from – it worked so well in the previous game but it just didn’t click this week, for some reason.

“But it was encouraging that we sorted it out in the end. Our forwards dominated Rotherham in certain departments.

“We need to look at how we start and at turning five-metre pressure into points – I lost count of the number of times we got so close to their line and didn’t get over – but it was great to start the season with a win”