Breach ruled out of tournament after injuring ankle in training

England have been forced to rotate their back line for their penultimate Six Nations match against Wales after winger Jess Breach was ruled out for the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury.

Breach, who has 22 tries in 13 Test appearances, sustained the injury in training this week and although it has yet to be formally diagnosed, she will miss a potentially historic occasion tomorrow at Twickenham Stoop, where the attendance record for an England Women’s ticketed home game could be broken.

“Jess is having a surgeon review today,” said Simon Middleton, the head coach. “It’s not a good one, but it’s one of those where it’s not as bad as it could have been. It needs a review to decide whether it requires surgery.

“It’s ruled her out for the rest of the Six Nations, which will be bitterly disappointing. She’s been in great form for us.”

Harlequins say well over 10,000 tickets have been sold and they are aiming to pass 11,000. The record for an England Women’s home game is 10,451 at Sandy Park.

England are firm favourites to see off a Welsh side who remain winless in the championship under the three-way coaching team of Chris Horsman, Geraint Lewis and Gareth Wyatt since the mysterious departure of former head coach Rowland Phillips in October.

In light of Breach’s absence,

Sarah Mckenna will reacquaint herself on the left wing against Wales, where she was deployed in the build-up to the 2017 World Cup.

“We’ve always considered Sarah as a full-back/wing, so this is a good opportunity to move her on to the wing and to give Emily Scott some more time as full-back, as that’s another position where we’re always looking to strengthen our depth and experience,” Middleton said.

Lydia Thompson has also been welcomed back into the fold as Abby Dow, who has impressed with four tries this tournament, is rested. Harriet Millar-mills will earn her first start in an England shirt since the 2017 World Cup final, while Amy Cokayne will run out for her 50th cap in an all-harlequins starting front row for the first time this tournament, alongside Shaunagh Brown and Vickii Cornborough.

There could also be a debut for 17-year-old Mia Venner, a product of England’s Under-20 programme, whom Middleton hailed as “absolutely outstanding” after he invited the full-back into his squad’s training camp this week.

“We’ve been bringing players in to help support the training and to create 15 against 15 scenarios,” he said. “It gives us the chance to look at some of the players who normally we wouldn’t be able to, those who are outside the contracted squad. It’s a bit like what Eddie [Jones] does with his apprentices.

“If we lose a winger in the first five minutes [tomorrow], would we be confident of putting Mia on the field? To be honest, we would.”