Early call made by England on Brown to leave Goode with an opportunity to shine

Brown was knocked unconscious during an accidental collision in the 47-17 round two victory over Italy and has run out of time to successfully complete the return-to-play protocols.

The 2014 player of the Six Nations, who had already suffered one setback in his recovery last week, woke up on yesterday morning with a “mild headache” having completed a running session the previous morning.

Alex Goode will start at full-back at the Aviva Stadium and Brown – an instigator of the recent tunnel stand-off with Wales at the Millennium Stadium – must now switch his attention to proving his fitness to face Scotland on March 14.

“Mike woke up not feeling 100 per cent,” said backs coach Andy Farrell.

“The right and proper thing to do was to make the call on him. His health is the main priority here and we need to get him right for the next game.

“The symptoms aren’t too severe whatsoever. He’s fine in himself and is chirpy enough, but it just isn’t worth the risk because his health comes first.”

Brown’s absence has robbed England of their second-most experienced player in a backline that is light on caps.

Goode won the last of his 16 caps against Wales just over 12 months ago