Georgia have risen to eleventh in World Rugby’s rankings – one place above Wales, who’ve dropped to the bottom place of their historical past after 17 consecutive Take a look at defeats.
The previous Leicester ahead’s aspect have now gained 17 second-tier titles and he says they want a higher problem.
“We really feel we’re most likely a bit of bit too sturdy for this match though the opposite groups are enhancing, particularly Spain and Romania, however for us to enhance we have to play at a harder degree,” the 54-year-old instructed the BBC Radio Wales Breakfast programme.
“We have to go and get challenged and we have to lose video games. We have to lose video games to know what it feels wish to play on the degree the Six Nations is at, as Italy had that chance within the early 2000s.
“We really feel we have earned the precise, to not be on condition that place, we would like the chance to show that probably we’re adequate to compete regularly at that degree.”
Cockerill does nevertheless admit the prospect of a play-off within the close to future is unlikely.
“I do not suppose so. For those who’re within the Six Nations you would not wish to be voting for that sort of play-off, would you?” he added.
“As a result of it is likely to be you, and the ramifications of not being within the Six Nations, from a rugby viewpoint but in addition from a monetary viewpoint, could be very, very troublesome.
“It is a bit like a Championship soccer membership entering into the Premiership is not it? You understand it will be the richest recreation in world rugby.
“That will be a recreation individuals would wish to watch and the cash concerned and the profile concerned for Georgian rugby would catapult us into a very completely different sphere if we had been adequate to beat whoever finishes backside.
“And if we lose, properly we re-group, we hold growing and we battle for the chance to try this once more. I do not see that as an unreasonable request.”
