Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Selection But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed manager Andy Farrell has named captain Doris in his Irish squad for the autumn internationals, however Joe McCarthy is absent.

Doris, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to play against the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1.

Second row McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue suffered during the first Lions match against Australia in the summer.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and southern province wing Nash also miss out due to fitness concerns, while full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after having a hip operation after the summer tour.

Dublin province prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-man group, but Irish rugby authorities states new provincial pair Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped Connacht winger Bolton will head to the US as "reserves".

Following playing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, the team will play Japan, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the veteran members and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the Lions tour to Australia.

In a largely familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will again compete for the first-choice fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is remains up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third number 10 chosen as the coach deciding not to selecting Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer Test victories over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced cohort of midfield choices. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, but the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. The winger shone on his first Ireland outings over the summer with a brace each in the victories over the Lelos and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole new addition in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of his province's three league matches so far and played in the second string's loss by the English in the English city previously.

The 22-year-old was selected in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer selection, but did not receive a international appearance.

Munster second row Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those matches, is kept in the squad, and veteran Ulster second row Henderson is back after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for the captain should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before flying to the US on Tuesday.

Pack (19): Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Province), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Furlong (Province), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Province), Gus McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Province), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Province).

Backs (15): Bundee Aki (Province), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Craig Casey (Province), Crowley (Province), Ciaran Frawley (Province), Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Province), Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Province), O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stockdale (Ulster).

Times BST

• The national team v New Zealand, November 1, Chicago (20:10)
• The side v the Brave Blossoms, November 8, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• Ireland v the Wallabies, November 15, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• The Irish v the Springboks, November 22, Aviva Stadium (17:40)