Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Team But McCarthy Omitted

Newly reappointed manager the Ireland coach has named captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland roster for the autumn Tests, but Joe McCarthy is absent.

Doris, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in early May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering whether he will be ready to play against the All Blacks in the US on November 1.

Lock Joe McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the first Lions Test against the Wallabies in July.

Northern province forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are not included due to injury, and full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery following the summer tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole new member in the 34-player squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union states uncapped Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped Connacht wing Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "cover".

Following facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, Ireland host the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and it's a chance for the veteran players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a largely experienced squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is still available, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the third number 10 selected with the coach deciding not to selecting the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has picked British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer Test wins over Georgia and the Lobos. 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 centre options. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is also a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at full-back.

Wingers James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Stockdale are named. The winger shone on his first Ireland outings during the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only fresh name in the Ireland forwards. The front rower has been in a couple of his province's URC league matches so far and played in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol previously.

The 22-year-old was selected in interim boss O'Connell's summer squad, but did not earn a cap.

Southern province lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those matches, is retained, while veteran Northern province second row Henderson returns after missing the summer tour.

Conan, who started all three Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to deputise for Doris should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The national team will assemble in the capital on Monday before traveling to Chicago on Tuesday.

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

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

Kick-off times

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