It's a massive loss - Heard on Jones injury

Tatyana Heard says nan wounded to her England centre partner Meg Jones arsenic a "massive loss" for nan Red Roses.

Jones picked up a “significant ankle injury” ruling her retired for each of nan Red Roses Autumn fixtures.

In nan absence of Jones, Gloucester-Hartpury's Heard is expected to proceed successful nan 12 garment for friendlies pinch France and New Zealand but is nether unit to shape a caller centre partnership.

Emily Scarratt, Phoebe Murray and Katie Buchanan are each contenders to play extracurricular centre.

"It creates opportunities for different people," said Heard. "It should beryllium an absorbing fewer weeks and an breathtaking clip for whoever gets that opportunity."

The Red Roses look France, who they defeated 42-21 successful April to seal a 3rd Six Nations Grand Slam successful a row, connected Saturday successful Gloucester.

They past invited nan world champions to nan recently named Allianz Stadium - which was antecedently Twickenham - connected 14 September.

Leicester Tigers subordinate Jones is known for her all-round crippled arsenic good arsenic being a ample characteristic successful nan England squad.

"Meg is immense for us, her characteristic connected and disconnected section is massive," said Heard, who besides elaborate really she was moving connected building caller combinations.

"I deliberation nan biggest different is nan sound level, nary 1 tin beryllium louder than Meg.

“Noticing 1 person's sound to another, I deliberation is thing that goes unsaid, but it is simply a large thing. If I get utilized to proceeding 1 person's sound I tin tune into that very easily. Having to perceive much to tune into a different tone, is simply a large quality for me."

While giving thing distant of who she mightiness play with, Heard said that it would not beryllium her pulling connected a 13 jersey: "I'm conscionable a 1 instrumentality pony, conscionable a 12."

As nan backs are adjusting to caller combinations, England's forwards are reasonably settled.

Prop Maud Muir says nan friendlies against rivals France and New Zealand are "like nothing" nan Red Roses person "ever experienced" before.

The 2 difficult warm-up matches are to thief assistance mentation for WXV1 successful Canada, wherever John Mitchell’s broadside purpose to take sides their title they won aft defeating New Zealand successful Auckland past year.

"We are utilized to somewhat easier warm-up games," Muir said. "It is simply a large challenge, but we person decidedly prepared arsenic thing tin hap successful nan first crippled of nan season.

"The first crippled is ever rusty, hopefully not excessively overmuch connected our part.

"It'll beryllium an absorbing crippled to spot wherever we are astatine and wherever we request to work."