No backward steps: Cockerill’s Georgia ready to take on the Springboks

IF ANY rugby follower is unsure how Georgia will approach Saturday's encounter with the Springboks in Mbombela, they need only cast their minds back to the day England hooker Richard Cockerill shoved an All Black during the Haka.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

It was 1997, and Cockerill — now the head coach of Georgia — decided to fight fire with fire. As his teammates faced the Haka, Cockerill marched up to his opposite number, Norm Hewitt. The two locked eyes, went nose to nose, and the standoff ended with Cockerill shoving Hewitt. The All Blacks cried foul, but Cockerill refused to apologise.

It is that same uncompromising attitude that has made him a popular figure with a Georgian side that thrives on physicality.

In his first campaign in charge, Cockerill led Georgia to the 2024 Rugby Europe Championship title — their seventh in a row. He also oversaw their 2024 Pacific tour, where the Lelos secured a first win over Japan since 2014. Later that year, they beat Tonga and came agonisingly close to toppling Italy in Genoa, narrowly losing 20-17.