Saracens fullback Alex Goode is waiting in the wings if Mike Brown fails to recover in time to face Ireland in Dublin.

Brown was forced off in the early stages of England's eventual 47-17 win over Italy at Twickenham on Saturday. The fullback sustained a knock to the head when putting in a try-saving tackle and after a lengthy spell lying stricken on the turf, he was stretchered off but was fit enough to take a place on the bench for the second-half.

With the Six Nations now heading into a fallow week, England will train from Tuesday to Thursday and Brown will go through the mandatory return-to-play protocols. "There is no pressure as there is no game this week" was Lancaster's take on Brown's return to fitness but if he fails to recover in time for their trip to Dublin, then England will be forced to reshuffle their backline.

It was Watson who slotted into Brown's shoes at fullback against Italy and if England keep him there for Dublin then Jack Nowell may come into the starting XV but it appears Saracens' Goode would be the man in line to replace Brown if Lancaster's hand is forced.

"Alex Goode has got a big game ahead of him now [against Bath on Sunday]; Chris Pennell would be the other one. Alex Goode would certainly be the next full-back in line. We still have high regard for Jack Nowell and we'll be watching his game [against Newcastle on Saturday]. We're hopeful it won't come to that but it would be a competition between Alex Goode, Mike and Anthony covering 15.

"We very much see Anthony as a winger in this team but he could cover there. Jack Nowell is the other back three option we are going to consider over the next two weeks."

After a weekend off, England will travel to Dublin on March 1 in what is being billed as a Grand Slam decider against Ireland. Ireland have so far seen off Italy and France and will be favourites on home turf against Lancaster's England in a fortnight.

The last meeting between the two was at Twickenham last year when England won 13-10 and they also won the last meeting in Dublin 12-6. "Ireland are a very good side. We beat them at Twickenham last year in a very tight game," Lancaster said. "They kick a lot. They have some effective set plays they use but a lot revolves around Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton's kicking game so our back three will be critical in that game going to Dublin."

And Lancaster played down the match being a Grand Slam-decider from an England point of view with Scotland and France lying in wait after Ireland. "I wouldn't go as far as that because you've got two big games after that," Lancaster said. "But there is no doubt that the game in Dublin has huge significance in relation to the championship. I have no doubt about that."