England have suffered a double injury blow with Morwenna Talling and Natasha Hunt being ruled out of the remainder of the Women's Six Nations.
The duo suffered leg injuries in the second half of the Red Roses' tournament-opening 33-12 win over Ireland in front of a record 77,120 crowd at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
Lock Talling started the match but was carted off injured after 43 minutes, while replacement scrum-half Hunt lasted just 13 minutes from the bench before being substituted injured herself.
Talling becomes the âlatest player from the second row to be ruled out of the tournament. Zoe Stratford, Abbie Ward and Rosie Galligan âwithdrew due to pregnancy.
Speaking after the Ireland match, England head coach John Mitchell said: "We have lost four international locks so we will probably be a team of back-rowers by â the end of the competition. There âare different ways to play this âgame and if we have to ârely on back-rowers, we will make it â work."
Sale's Talling and Gloucester-Hartpury's Hunt will stay in the England camp to see specialists this week before beginning rehabilitation at their respective clubs.
In their places, the RFU confirmed that Sydney Gregson and the uncapped Haidee Head had joined the squad to prepare for the Red Roses' next match against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
