Doris Makes Irish Team While McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager the Ireland coach has included skipper Doris in his Irish squad for the autumn matches, however Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since having shoulder surgery in early May, recently returned to Leinster training, though his fitness is uncertain if he will be ready to face the All Blacks in the US on 1 November.

Second row McCarthy, on the other hand, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the first British and Irish Lions Test against Australia in the summer.

Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, while number 15 Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation after the Lions tour.

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

Following playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland host the Brave Blossoms, 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 the newcomers on the recent tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented the coach, back to national team duties after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half position. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the third fly-half selected with the coach opting against selecting the province's Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has picked Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led Ireland to the summer Test wins over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an veteran group of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the centres, but the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for the full-back at full-back.

Wingers James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. The winger impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the only fresh name in the Irish forwards. The front rower has started a couple of his province's three league games so far and featured in the second string's loss by England in Bristol earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was selected in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer selection, but did not earn a cap.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those matches, is kept in the squad, and experienced Ulster lock Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who played in each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to cover for Doris should the skipper does not regain full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in the capital on Monday before flying to Chicago on Tuesday.

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

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

Kick-off times

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