Six Nations 2015: Nowell & Goode start for England against Ireland

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Alex Goode and Jack NowellImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Alex Goode (left) and Jack Nowell will start for England at the Aviva Stadium

Six Nations 2015: Ireland v England

Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Date: Sunday, 1 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC TV, HD, Red Button, Radio 5 live, Radio Ulster FM, the BBC Sport website, mobile, the BBC Sport app and Connected TV.

Jack Nowell and Alex Goode will start for England against Ireland in the Six Nations in Dublin on Sunday.

Saracens full-back Goode replaces Mike Brown with Exeter Chiefs wing Nowell named ahead of Gloucester's Jonny May.

Brown misses the match following a setback in his recovery from concussion suffered against Italy.

Leinster back-row Jordi Murphy replaces Jamie Heaslip in the only change to unbeaten Ireland's starting line-up that defeated France last time out.

Munster second-row Paul O'Connell will lead the home side as he wins his 99th cap.

On England's replacements' bench, Bath's Henry Thomas comes in for Kieran Brookes as the Newcastle Falcons prop recovers from a hip flexor strain.

"We've made minimal changes as we felt the squad performed well in the first two games," said head coach Stuart Lancaster.

BBC Rugby Union correspondent Ian Robertson

"One change was inevitable with Mike Brown failing to recover from the concussion he received in the last international against Italy.

"It's two years since Alex Goode started an England international, but he's been in great form for Saracens and deserves this selection.

"On the wing, Jonny May has been short of his best and his place is taken by Jack Nowell."

"Alex is in good form for Saracens and has been training well over the last few weeks. He's played for us in big internationals and while he's a slightly different type of player, he certainly brings a lot to the party.

"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."

Lancaster said he replaced May with Nowell because of the former's error count.

"Jonny has to work on his consistency because international rugby is about taking your chances," he added.

"By Jonny's own admission, he's made one or two errors along the way."

Image source, PA
Image caption,

Jonny May misses out against Ireland following a loss of form

Lancaster confirmed Chris Pennell and Manu Tuilagi will also travel to Dublin but are not in the matchday squad.

Leicester Tigers centre Tuilagi, 23, is continuing to recover from a groin injury which saw him miss England's autumn internationals.

Six Nations champions Ireland start as marginal favourites at the Aviva Stadium as both sides enter the encounter with two wins from their opening two matches.

England beat Wales 21-16 in Cardiff before defeating Italy 47-17 at Twickenham.

Ireland beat the Italians 26-3 in Rome on the opening weekend, then defeated visitors France 18-11 last time out.

England: A Goode (Saracens); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), L Burrell (Northampton Saints), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), D Cole (Leicester Tigers); D Attwood (Bath), G Kruis (Saracens); J Haskell (Wasps), C Robshaw (captain, Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens).

Replacements: T Youngs (Leicester Tigers), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Thomas (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester).

Ireland: R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), J Payne (Ulster), R Henshaw (Connacht), S Zebo (Munster); J Sexton (Racing Metro), C Murray (Munster); J McGrath (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross (Leinster); D Toner (Leinster), P O'Connell (Munster); P O'Mahony (Munster), S O'Brien (UCD), J Murphy (Leinster).

Replacements: S Cronin (St Mary's), C Healy (Clontarg), M Moore (Lansdowne), I Henderson (Ballynahinch), T O'Donnell (UL Bohemians), E Reddan (Lansdowne), I Madigan (Blackrock), F Jones(Shannon).

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