No case for the defence from May as Nowell gets nod to face Ireland

JACK NOWELL is poised to start England’s pivotal RBS Six Nations clash with Ireland after being preferred ahead of Jonny May in a 26-man squad retained for the Dublin showdown.
DUBLIN DOUBT: England's Mike Brown.DUBLIN DOUBT: England's Mike Brown.
DUBLIN DOUBT: England's Mike Brown.

Nowell, who has overcome the shoulder and knee problems that blighted last season, will replace May on the left wing as reward for his strong form at Exeter.

May scored one of the finest tries seen at Twickenham against New Zealand last autumn, but his suspect defence was compounded in the 47-17 victory over Italy when he failed to finish a routine chance.

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Nowell’s strike-rate for England and his club Exeter is far from prolific, but his defence is solid and having played full-back in the past he is better suited to the kicking barrage Ireland are expected to unleash through half-backs Jonathan Sexton and Conor Murray.

“We’ve had to make some tough decisions but it’s a good position to be in. Those players going back to their clubs have another big weekend ahead to lay down a marker for later in the tournament,” said head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Nowell’s promotion will be the only change to the starting XV unless full-back Mike Brown fails to complete the return to play protocols for concussion.

Brown was knocked unconscious following an accidental collision with Italy centre Andrea Masi and is a doubt for the potential title decider at the Aviva Stadium.

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The reigning player of the Championship suffered a recurrence of symptoms last week and was forced to restart the protocols, but completed yesterday’s running session and will now progress to non-contact training.

Alex Goode is on standby to deputise and Chris Pennell is also in the squad as full-back cover if Brown fails to prove his fitness by the deadline on Friday morning when the starting XV is announced.

Kieran Brookes, England’s bench tighthead against Wales and Italy, has a hip flexor strain, so Henry Thomas will join training today as cover.

Locks Geoff Parling and Courtney Lawes and flanker Tom Wood have recovered from injury but have been released back to their clubs and will not be involved against Ireland.

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“Preparation has gone well and we’ve had a good build-up so far,” added Lancaster.

“The guys who played against Wales and Italy did really well and the good thing is that others who are now fit and training are pushing hard for selection.

“Chris Pennell is in camp for the first time since last summer so we are taking this opportunity for him to spend some additional time with us as Worcester have no Greene King IPA Championship game this weekend.”

Regardless of England’s line-up, Jordi Murphy will handle the “huge physicality” of England’s back-row in Sunday’s showdown, according to Ireland team-mate Peter O’Mahony.

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Loose forward Murphy is primed to step in at No 8 for Ireland, with Jamie Heaslip recuperating from the back injury suffered in victory over France.

Munster captain O’Mahony and Leinster’s Sean O’Brien will add experience and steel around the talented but green six-cap Leinster star Murphy when the Six Nations’ two unbeaten sides slug it out at the Aviva Stadium.

O’Mahony believes 23-year-old Murphy has all the credentials to cope with England’s bullish back-row trio of James Haskell, Chris Robshaw and Billy Vunipola.

“Jordi is a quality player: he’s well rounded, well able to carry hard and do the grunt-work, but he’s got a good set of skills,” said O’Mahony. “He’s got a lovely pass and he’s a good lineout option: he’s a quality all-rounded player.”

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England 26-man squad – Forwards: D Attwood (Bath Rugby), K Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), N Easter (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), J Haskell (Wasps), G Kruis (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), Robshaw (Harlequins, capt) Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers). Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), L Burrell (Northampton Saints), D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), G Ford (Bath Rugby), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath Rugby), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), C Pennell (Worcester Warriors), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), A Watson (Bath Rugby), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

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