Doris Makes Irish Team But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager Andy Farrell has named captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn matches, but lock McCarthy is absent.

Doris, who has not played since undergoing a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to face the All Blacks in the US on November 1.

Second row 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.

Ulster player Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are also absent due to injury, while number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery after the Lions tour.

Leinster forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new member in the 34-player squad, but the Irish Rugby Football Union states new Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province wing Bolton will head to Chicago as "cover".

After playing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a rematch of their previous meeting, Ireland will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world title holders South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after a break to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again vie for the first-choice number 10 position. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first time in the upcoming URC game at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 selected as the coach deciding not to selecting Leinster's Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey form an veteran group of midfield options. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, though the 23-year-old is also a leading candidate to deputise for the full-back at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. The winger impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the sole new addition in the Irish pack. The front rower has started two of his province's URC league matches this season and featured in Ireland A's defeat by the English in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was included in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not receive a cap.

Southern province lock Thomas Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and experienced Ulster lock Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions matches over the summer, is poised to cover for Doris should the captain does not regain full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in Dublin on Monday before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Baird (Leinster), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Province), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Leinster), Jack Conan (Leinster), Doris (Leinster, captain), Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Province), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Province), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Province), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Times BST

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