Doris Included in Irish Selection But McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed head coach the Ireland coach has named skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland squad for the fall internationals, however lock McCarthy has been excluded.

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

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot injury suffered during the first British and Irish Lions Test against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Calvin Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery after the Lions tour.

Leinster prop McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only uncapped member in the 34-player squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster pair Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped Connacht wing Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "backup".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their previous encounter, the team host the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world title holders South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts 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 the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is still available, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 chosen with Farrell deciding not to selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained the national side to the summer international victories over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a recall for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey form an experienced group of centre options. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are named. O'Brien impressed on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the wins over the Lelos and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Ireland pack. The front rower has started a couple of his province's three United Rugby Championship games so far and played in the second string's loss by the English in the English city previously.

McCarthy was selected in interim boss O'Connell's summer squad, yet did not earn a international appearance.

Southern province second row Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and experienced Northern province lock Henderson returns after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who played in each of the Lions matches during the tour, is set to deputise for Doris should the captain does not regain full fitness soon enough to face New Zealand.

The Ireland squad will meet in the capital on the start of the week before flying to the US on Tuesday.

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

Backline (15): Bundee Aki (Province), Caolin Blade (Province), Casey (Province), Crowley (Province), Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster), Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Province), James Lowe (Province), Stuart McCloskey (Province), O'Brien (Province), Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Times BST

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