Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Selection While McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed head coach Andy Farrell has selected captain Caelan Doris in his Irish team for the fall Tests, but Joe McCarthy misses out.

The captain, who has not played since having a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering whether he will be fit to play against the All Blacks in Chicago on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the first British and Irish Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Calvin Nash also miss out due to fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing a hip operation following the summer tour.

Dublin province forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only new member in the 34-man group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says new Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province wing Bolton will head to the US as "reserves".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, the team host the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and there's an opportunity for the more experienced members and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again vie for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is remains available, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to play against each other for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional number 10 selected as the coach opting against calling up Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who led the national side to the summer international victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a recall for Connacht's Blade, who is preferred to teammate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran group of centre choices. Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at full-back.

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

Paddy McCarthy is the only fresh addition in the Irish pack. The loose-head prop has started a couple of his province's three league games so far and played in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol previously.

McCarthy was included in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer squad, yet did not earn a international appearance.

Southern province lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those matches, is retained, while experienced Ulster lock Iain Henderson returns after missing the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for the captain should 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 flying to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

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