Nowell replaces Jonny May on the left wing for his first cap since making his five previous Test appearances during last year’s Six Nations, ending a near year-long absence due to shoulder and knee injuries.

May scored one of the finest tries seen at Twickenham against New Zealand in November, but he wasted a three-on-one overlap against Italy and his defence has long been a source of concern.

In the third and final adjustment to the match-day 23, tighthead prop Kieran Brookes is withdrawn from the bench after failing to recover from a hip flexor strain, giving Henry Thomas his first chance of the Championship.

“Alex is in good form for Saracens and has been training well over the last few weeks, as has Jack Nowell who is also playing well for Exeter Chiefs,” head coach Stuart Lancaster said.

“Both have been pushing hard for selection and I’m sure they’ll seize their chance against a high quality Ireland side.”

England team to face Ireland in Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, kick-off 3pm:

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

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