Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Squad But McCarthy Misses Out

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

The captain, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to play against New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Second row McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the first Lions Test against the Wallabies in the summer.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash are also absent because of injury, while full-back Keenan was previously excluded after having a hip operation after the Lions tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new player in the 34-man group, however Irish rugby authorities says uncapped provincial pair Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped Connacht wing Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "reserves".

After facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their previous meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world champions the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced members and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to national team duties after a break to lead the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again vie for the starting number 10 position. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley set to play against each other for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship game at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the third number 10 selected as the coach opting against selecting Leinster's Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer Test wins over the Lelos and Portugal. Additionally, there is a recall for the western province's Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Murphy.

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

Outside backs Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. The winger impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Ireland forwards. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of Leinster's URC United Rugby Championship games so far and featured in the second string's loss by England in Bristol earlier this year.

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 received his debut appearances in those matches, is kept in the squad, and veteran Ulster lock Henderson is back after sitting out the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests over the summer, is poised to deputise for Doris should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

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

Pack (19): Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Beirne (Province), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Province), Jack Conan (Leinster), Doris (Province, captain), Furlong (Province), Iain Henderson (Ulster), Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Province), Paddy McCarthy (Leinster), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Kick-off times

• The national team v New Zealand, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
• Ireland v Japan, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• Ireland v the Wallabies, 15 November, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• Ireland v South Africa, 22 November, Dublin (17:40)