The Red Roses will be without World Cup winners Natasha Hunt and Morwenna Talling for the rest of the Six Nations, in another major injury blow for John Mitchell’s side.
The pair both sustained leg injuries in the second half of England’s 33-12 win over Ireland in Saturday’s opening round of the Championship, with Hunt departing just 13 minutes after coming off the bench while Talling played the full first half before withdrawing just three minutes into the second period.
These come as the latest blows to Mitchell’s side as they seek to win their fifth successive Grand Slam, with the Red Roses also seeing Tatyana Heard, Mackenzie Carson and Charlotte Fray all withdrawing from the squad.
Red Roses dealt latest injury blows as duo out of Six Nations
“Natasha Hunt and Morwenna Talling have been ruled out of the remainder of the Guinness Women’s Six Nations,” a statement issued by the Red Roses read.
“The duo suffered leg injuries in the second half of the Red Roses’ opening round win over Ireland at Allianz Stadium.
“Both players will see specialists whilst in camp this week before returning to their respective clubs to begin their rehabilitation in conjunction with the Red Roses medical team.”
Speaking of the pair’s injuries post-match, Mitchell said they would be ‘long-term’ issues: “They’ll be long-term, sadly. We’ve got some good diagnoses on that already.
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“We’ll explain what they are. I’m not technically good enough [to explain] at this point of time. But we’ve acknowledged they are out of the tournament.”
“We must adapt, he continued. “We will be a team of back-rowers by the end of the tournament.
“If that is the way it is going to be, then so be it. There are different ways to play this game, and if that means using back-rowers, then we will make it work.”
Trailfinders’ Haidee Head and Saracens ace Sydney Gregson have been drafted into the squad in their place, and come into immediate consideration for Saturday’s visit to Scotland. Should she feature in the match-day squad, Head would win her first cap, while Gregson would win her fourth Test cap.
Saturday’s encounter between the Auld rivals will take place at Murrayfield, with a reported 25,000 tickets already sold for the clash.