Caelan Doris Makes Irish Selection While McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed head coach the Ireland coach has selected captain Doris in his Irish squad for the fall matches, but lock McCarthy is absent.

Doris, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in early May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering if he will be fit to face New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Second row Joe McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury he sustained during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash are not included because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery after the Lions tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only new member in the 34-player squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped Connacht wing Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "cover".

After playing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions South Africa in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced members and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after a break to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking selection, Leinster's Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice fly-half position. The fly-half role is remains up for grabs, as the two players poised to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional fly-half selected with the coach opting against calling up the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Casey, who led the national side to the summer Test wins over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a recall for the western province's Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey represent an veteran group of midfield options. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, though the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. O'Brien shone on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Irish pack. The front rower has started a couple of his province's URC league matches this season and played in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol previously.

McCarthy was selected in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a international appearance.

Munster second row Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those Tests, is retained, while veteran Northern province lock Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started all three Lions matches over the summer, is poised to deputise for the captain if the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in Dublin on Monday before traveling to Chicago on the following day.

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Province), Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Province), Iain Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Leinster), G McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Province), C Prendergast (Province), Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

Backline (15): Aki (Connacht), Blade (Province), Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Province), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Mack Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Province), Garry Ringrose (Province), Jacob Stockdale (Province).

Kick-off times

• The national team v New Zealand, November 1, Chicago (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• Ireland v Australia, 15 November, Dublin (20:10)
• The Irish v South Africa, November 22, Aviva Stadium (17:40)