Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Team But McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed manager the Ireland coach has named captain Caelan Doris in his Irish squad for the fall internationals, but Joe McCarthy is absent.

Doris, who has not played since undergoing shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering if he will be fit to play against New Zealand in the US on 1 November.

Lock Joe McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the first Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster winger Calvin Nash are not included due to fitness concerns, while number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing a hip operation following the summer tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only uncapped player in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says new provincial duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped Connacht wing Bolton will travel to Chicago as "cover".

After facing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced members and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is remains up for grabs, with the two players set to face off for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship game at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional fly-half selected as Farrell deciding not to selecting Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer Test victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield options. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is also a leading candidate to cover for the full-back at full-back.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. O'Brien impressed on his national team debut during the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole fresh name in the Irish forwards. The front rower has started a couple of Leinster's URC United Rugby Championship matches so far and played in Ireland A's loss by the English in the English city previously.

McCarthy was included in interim boss O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not receive a international appearance.

Southern province second row Thomas Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is retained, and experienced Ulster lock Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for the captain if the captain fails to recover full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to the US on the following day.

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

Backs (15): Aki (Connacht), Caolin Blade (Connacht), Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Province), McCloskey (Province), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Province), Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Times BST

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