WORCESTER Warriors' Chris Pennell will be a travelling reserve for England in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations crunch clash in Ireland (3pm).

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has made the first changes of the nation's 2015 campaign with full-back Alex Goode and winger Jack Nowell replacing the injured Mike Brown (concussion) and the dropped Jonny May respectively.

Tighthead prop Kieran Brookes has been withdrawn from the bench due to a hip flexor strain, giving Henry Thomas his first chance of the championship, but there is no place among the replacements for Worcester-born Pennell, 27, who will be on emergency standby in Dublin.

England and Ireland are the only unbeaten teams so the Aviva Stadium encounter should prove crucial to the final destination of the crown.

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

"Chris and Manu Tuilagi will also travel. Manu has been recovering with us and it's good to keep him connected, while Chris will be a travelling reserve."

Lancaster named an unchanged 23 for the victories in Wales (21-16) and at home to Italy (47-17) as England made a strong start to their pursuit of the trophy.

The squad depart for Dublin tonight and champions Ireland start as marginal favourites to halt English momentum.