Doris Secures Spot in Irish Squad While Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has selected captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the autumn internationals, but lock McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in the start of May, recently returned to provincial training, with doubts lingering whether he will be ready to play against New Zealand in the US on November 1.

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

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

Leinster prop McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only uncapped member in the 34-player group, but Irish rugby authorities states new provincial pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped western province wing Shayne Bolton will head to Chicago as "cover".

After facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a rematch of their previous encounter, the team host Japan, Australia and world champions the Springboks in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the Lions tour to Australia.

In a mostly experienced squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is still available, as Prendergast and Crowley poised to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

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

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

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of centre choices. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, but the youngster is additionally a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at number 15.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. O'Brien impressed on his first Ireland outings during the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and the Lobos.

Paddy McCarthy is the sole new name in the Irish forwards. The loose-head prop has started two of Leinster's URC United Rugby Championship matches so far and featured in the second string's loss by the English in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer squad, but did not earn a cap.

Southern province lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while veteran Northern province second row Henderson returns after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is poised to cover for Doris should the captain does not regain full fitness in time to face New Zealand.

The national team will assemble in Dublin on the start of the week before flying to the US on the following day.

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Province), Boyle (Leinster), Clarkson (Province), Conan (Province), Doris (Province, capt), Furlong (Province), Henderson (Ulster), Kelleher (Province), G McCarthy (Leinster), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Sheehan (Province), Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Province).

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

Times BST

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