Doris Makes Irish Selection But Joe McCarthy Left Out

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has named captain Doris in his Ireland squad for the autumn Tests, however Joe McCarthy is absent.

The captain, who has not played since having a shoulder operation in early May, recently returned to Leinster training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be ready to face the All Blacks in the US on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot injury suffered during the first Lions match against Australia in July.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, and full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after having a hip operation after the Lions tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole new member in the 34-man squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says new Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, Ireland host Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced members and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented the coach, back to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again compete for the starting fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is still available, as the two players poised to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the third number 10 selected with Farrell deciding not to calling up the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer international victories over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for Connacht's Blade, chosen to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of midfield choices. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the youngster is additionally a leading candidate to cover for the full-back at full-back.

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

McCarthy is the only fresh addition in the Ireland pack. The front rower has been in a couple of Leinster's three United Rugby Championship matches so far and played in Ireland A's defeat by England in Bristol earlier this year.

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

Munster second row Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those matches, is retained, and experienced Ulster second row Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for the captain should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The national team will meet in Dublin on Monday before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

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