Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Selection While Joe McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed manager Andy Farrell has named captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the autumn internationals, however lock McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, who has not played since undergoing a shoulder operation in early May, recently returned to Leinster training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to face the All Blacks in the US on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, however, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot injury he sustained during the opening British and Irish Lions match against Australia in July.

Ulster player Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are also absent because of injury, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery following the summer tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole uncapped member in the 34-man group, but Irish rugby authorities states new provincial duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province wing Bolton will travel to Chicago as "cover".

After playing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in Dublin.

"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 summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after a break to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice fly-half position. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the third fly-half selected as Farrell opting against calling up the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer international wins over the Lelos and Portugal. There is also a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced group of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, though the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at number 15.

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

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of his province's URC United Rugby Championship matches this season and featured in Ireland A's loss by the English in Bristol previously.

McCarthy was included in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a cap.

Munster lock Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those matches, is kept in the squad, while veteran Ulster lock Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who started all three Lions matches over the summer, is poised to cover for the captain if the skipper does not regain full fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The national team will assemble in the capital on Monday before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

Forwards (19): Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Province), Jack Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Province), Jack Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Furlong (Province), Henderson (Province), Ronan Kelleher (Province), Gus McCarthy (Province), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Province), Ryan (Leinster), Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Province).

Backline (15): Bundee Aki (Connacht), Blade (Connacht), Casey (Munster), Crowley (Munster), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Gibson-Park (Province), Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Province), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Province), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Stockdale (Ulster).

Times BST

• The national team v New Zealand, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
• The side v Japan, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• Ireland v the Wallabies, 15 November, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, November 22, Dublin (17:40)