Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Team While Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager Andy Farrell has selected skipper Doris in his Ireland squad for the autumn internationals, however lock McCarthy is absent.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to Leinster training, with doubts lingering if he will be fit to face the All Blacks in the US on 1 November.

Second row McCarthy, however, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the first Lions match against the Wallabies in the summer.

Northern province player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Calvin Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, and number 15 Keenan was previously excluded after having a hip operation after the Lions tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-player group, however Irish rugby authorities says uncapped Munster pair Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped Connacht winger Bolton will head to the US as "reserves".

After playing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, the team will play Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the panel and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented Farrell, back to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half position. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with the two players poised to face off for the first time in the upcoming URC match at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the third fly-half chosen with Farrell opting against calling up the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led Ireland to the summer international victories over Georgia and the Lobos. Additionally, there is a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Ben Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey form an veteran cohort of midfield choices. Osborne is a further choice in the centres, though the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Outside backs Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. The winger shone on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the victories over Georgia and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Ireland pack. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of Leinster's three league games this season and featured in Ireland A's loss by England in the English city earlier this year.

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

Southern province lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those matches, is kept in the squad, and experienced Northern province lock Henderson returns after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to deputise for Doris if the captain does not regain full fitness in time to face the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Times BST

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