Caelan Doris Makes Ireland Selection But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed head coach Andy Farrell has named skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn internationals, however Joe McCarthy misses out.

The captain, absent from play since undergoing a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to Leinster training, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to play against New Zealand in the US on November 1.

Second row McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue suffered during the first Lions match against Australia in the summer.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are also absent because of injury, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing hip surgery after the summer tour.

Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole new player in the 34-player squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union states uncapped provincial pair Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped Connacht winger Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

Following facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 encounter, Ireland will play Japan, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented the coach, back to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will again compete for the starting fly-half position. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at the Dublin venue.

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

At number 9, the Ireland boss has selected British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led Ireland to the summer international wins over Georgia and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to teammate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced cohort of centre choices. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at number 15.

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

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Ireland pack. The front rower has started two of his province's URC league games so far and featured in the second string's loss by the English in Bristol previously.

McCarthy was included in interim boss O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a cap.

Southern province second row Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and experienced Ulster second row Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions matches over the summer, is set to deputise for Doris if the captain does not regain full fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The national team will meet in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Kick-off times

• Ireland v the All Blacks, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v Australia, November 15, Dublin (20:10)
• Ireland v the Springboks, November 22, Aviva Stadium (17:40)