England have made two changes for what is being billed as the Six Nations decider against Ireland on Sunday, with Alex Goode coming in at full-back for Mike Brown, who is still recovering from the aftereffects of concussion, and Exeter’s Jack Nowell replacing Jonny May on the left wing.
England have fielded an unchanged starting XV in their opening two wins over Wales and Italy but Nowell’s inclusion is partly a tactical move designed to counter Ireland’s kicking game. May has paid the price for a couple of costly errors in this season’s Six Nations and is among 10 players released by Stuart Lancaster.
The head coach said: “Jack’s consistency for his club has been very good. He rarely makes an error. He’s very good under the high ball and is good defensively.
“Jonny has to work on his consistency because international rugby is about taking your chances. By Jonny’s own admission he’s made one or two errors along the way.”
England’s excellent form in defeating Wales and Italy means there is still no place for the former stalwarts Geoff Parling, Tom Wood, Courtney Lawes, Alex Corbisiero, Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond.
“Alex is in good form for Saracens and has been training well over the last few weeks, as has Jack who is also playing well for Exeter Chiefs,” Lancaster said.
Brown, who was knocked cold and carried off during England’s game against Italy, had hoped to be back in action this week but has been able to resume full training. “I’ve got to be 100% certain that he’s right,” Lancaster said this week. “It’s very early for me to pencil him in for a game at the moment.”
England team
A Goode (Saracens); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton), J Nowell (Exeter); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), D Attwood (Bath), G Kruis (Saracens), J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Thomas (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins), T Croft (Leicester), R, Wigglesworth (Saracens), D Cipriani (Sale), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester).
