Doris Makes Ireland Selection But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager Andy Farrell has included captain Doris in his Ireland squad for the fall matches, but Joe McCarthy is absent.

The captain, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in early May, has come back to Leinster training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be fit to play against New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Lock Joe McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue he sustained during the opening British and Irish Lions Test against Australia in the summer.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and Munster winger Nash also miss out because of injury, while full-back Keenan was previously excluded after having a hip operation after the summer tour.

Dublin province prop McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the only uncapped member in the 34-man squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union states new Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped Connacht wing Bolton will head to the US as "cover".

After facing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 encounter, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions the Springboks in Dublin.

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

In a largely experienced selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half position. The fly-half role is remains available, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming URC match at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the third fly-half selected as Farrell deciding not to selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has selected British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer Test victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran group of centre choices. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the youngster is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. The winger impressed on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has been in two of Leinster's URC United Rugby Championship games this season and featured in the second string's loss by the English in Bristol earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was included in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer squad, yet did not earn a international appearance.

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

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions matches over the summer, is poised to deputise for the captain should the skipper fails to recover fitness in time to face New Zealand.

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

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Province), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Iain Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Province), Porter (Leinster), C Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Ulster), van der Flier (Province).

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

Kick-off times

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