England drop Jonny May and recall Jack Nowell for Six Nations trip to Ireland

England have dropped Gloucester wing Jonny May and recalled Exeter counterpart Jack Nowell for Sunday's crucial Six Nations trip to face Ireland to Dublin.

The 21-year-old Nowell, who caught the eye in the Chiefs' 32-21 win at Harlequins, started all five of England's 2014 Six Nations games and is in line for a first appearance in this year's competition with May - ever-present since the autumn internationals - sent back to Kingsholm.

With England's makeshift pack proving more than capable in the opening victories over Wales and Italy, head coach Stuart Lancaster has also allowed several big-name forwards returning from injury to continue their rehabilitation with their clubs.

Locks Geoff Parling and Courtney Lawes, who are recovering from knee and ankle problems respectively, have left the training camp - meaning Bath's Dave Attwood and Saracens' George Kruis are likely to continue their second row partnership.

Northampton stars Alex Corbisiero and Tom Wood also miss out as Lancaster continues to treat their recoveries from respective shoulder and ankle injuries with caution. Joe Marler is set to continue at loosehead with the in-form James Haskell expected to keep his place at blindside.

Bath prop Henry Thomas has been added to the group due to lingering fitness concerns over Kieran Brookes, who is struggling with a hip flexor strain.

Worcester full-back Chris Pennell and versatile Saracen Alex Goode provide cover for Mike Brown, who is racing through return-to-play protocols after the concussion he sustained in the 47-17 win over Italy last time out - but there are no places for scrum-half Danny Care or centres Brad Barritt and Kyle Eastmond.

Powerhouse Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi has been "retained in camp for recovery", with his rehabilitation from groin trouble still ongoing.

Having trimmed his training squad to 26, Lancaster said: "Preparation has gone well and we’ve had a good build-up so far. 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. 

“We’ve had to make some tough decisions but it’s a good position to be in and those players going back to their clubs have another big weekend ahead to lay down a marker for later in the tournament.

“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."

Forwards: T Youngs, Hartley, M Vunipola, Marler, Thomas, Cole, Brookes, Kruis, Attwood, Easter, Haskell, Croft, Robshaw (captain) B Vunipola.

Backs: Brown, Pennell, Goode, Watson, Nowell, Burrell, Twelvetrees, Joseph, Ford, Cipriani, B Youngs, Wigglesworth.