Caelan Doris Included in Irish Selection But Joe McCarthy Left Out

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has included captain Caelan Doris in his Irish team for the fall Tests, however lock McCarthy misses out.

Doris, who has not played since having a shoulder operation in the start of May, recently returned to Leinster training, with doubts lingering whether he will be ready to play against New Zealand in the US on 1 November.

Lock Joe McCarthy, on the other hand, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury he sustained during the first Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, while number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery after the summer tour.

Dublin province forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole new player in the 34-man group, however the Irish Rugby Football Union states new Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped western province winger Bolton will head to Chicago as "reserves".

Following playing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, Ireland will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after a break to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced squad, the Dublin club's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again vie for the starting number 10 position. The number 10 jersey is still available, with the two players set to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional fly-half chosen with the coach opting against selecting Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to teammate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced group of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is another option in the midfield, but the youngster is also a frontrunner to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. The winger impressed on his first Ireland outings during the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over Georgia and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the only new name in the Ireland forwards. The loose-head prop has been in two of his province's three league games this season and played in Ireland A's loss by the English in Bristol previously.

The 22-year-old was selected in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer selection, but did not receive a cap.

Southern province lock Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while experienced Ulster lock Henderson returns after missing the summer matches.

Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is poised to deputise for Doris if the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The national team will meet in the capital on Monday before traveling to Chicago on the following day.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Province), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Province), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

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

Times BST

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