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Breach resorts to scrum cap after gruesome injury
Jess Breach is to wear a scrum cap for the first time when England face France in Saturday’s Grand Slam decider to protect the gruesome wound that required the attention of a plastic surgeon.
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Breach has been given the all-clear to continue on the left wing for the TikTok Women’s Six Nations clash in Bayonne only six days after being the victim of a dangerous tackle from Ireland back row Dorothy Wall.
Once the 24-year-old had received on-field treatment and passed her HIA, she was taken to hospital where 15 stitches were inserted into a horrific cut on her forehead which she later posted on Instagram.
By Wednesday she was back on the training field testing out a scrum cap with the hope that England’s attempt to win a fourth successive Six Nations title will be its only appearance.
“Gruesome is a great way to describe it! The plastic surgeon at Leicester hospital did an amazing job of fixing me up well with stitches,” Breach told the PA news agency.
“A lot of people on social media said ‘that’s gross, you could have warned us!’. I definitely did warn them! Everyone is shocked by it and even when I showed the photo to the other girls they were like ‘oh my God’.
“It wasn’t pleasant, but I wouldn’t say it was that painful, more a weird feeling. At the time I just thought it was a scratch and maybe I might need it glued back together.
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“I had no idea of location or depth and when I put my hand to my head there was blood, so I was thinking ‘oh I wonder where that’s coming from’. When I saw the photo I was like ‘Oh, OK’.
Neve Jones appreciation post 🤯 #ENGvIRE #TikTokW6N pic.twitter.com/bInqhH22p8
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“I’d never worn a scrum cap until Wednesday. Everyone said I rocked it! Cute was the word people were saying, but I’m not sure that’s a compliment!
“I’ll have to wear it to cover the cut, which was so deep. If the stitches ripped and the cut started bleeding, there would be more complications and I don’t want a big scar on my head.
“Playing with a scrum cap on is a bit different. I need to make sure I’m listening to people because it definitely blocks your hearing. Hopefully it will just be for this weekend.”
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Facing France enables Breach to continue her comeback after almost a year out of international rugby because of a succession of injuries, the most serious of which was a broken back sustained in October.
The electric Harlequins finisher announced her return with two tries against Wales before her afternoon against Ireland was cut short by a tackle that was punished with a yellow card.
“It’s been like getting back on to the bike again, you just know how to do it. It’s been nice to be back with some of my best friends,” she said.
“The back injury was the toughest. No one knew how long I’d be out for. It was a case of take each day as it comes. Some days I struggled to walk and couldn’t touch my toes.”
England are targeting a remarkable 23rd successive victory in a run that includes successive wins over the Black Ferns to confirm their position as favourites ahead of the World Cup being staged in New Zealand later this year.
The Red Roses have defeated France – their closest European rivals – in their last nine meetings and are strong favourites to extend that sequence into double figures having already amassed 258 points and 42 tries heading into the final round.
“We have some nerves, but they’re good nerves. Everyone loves coming to France and playing in front of the French crowd because they’re definitely rowdy,” Breach said.
“But if we get on top of the French team, then the crowd will definitely be silenced and that’s something we enjoy doing.
“They’ll boo and hiss when the kicker is about to kick, but they’ll also do that for their own kicker. We enjoy putting them back into their seats and back into their box, showing them that we’ve gone there to play and to win.
“We’ve got the World Cup coming up and this is really important because France are in our pool. A win would be massive for us, especially in front of their home crowd. It would put the pressure on them after losing to us so many times.”
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
4 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
4 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to comments