Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Team But McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach Andy Farrell has included captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the autumn Tests, however Joe McCarthy misses out.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to provincial training, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to play against New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot injury he sustained during the opening Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash also miss out because of injury, and number 15 Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having hip surgery after the summer tour.

Leinster forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new player in the 34-player group, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says new provincial duo Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and once-capped Connacht winger Bolton will head to Chicago as "cover".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 encounter, Ireland will play Japan, the Wallabies and world title holders 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 Georgia and the Lobos," commented the coach, back to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly experienced squad, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will again compete for the first-choice fly-half position. The number 10 jersey is still available, with the two players poised to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's URC match at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional fly-half selected as the coach deciding not to selecting Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At scrum-half, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer international victories over the Lelos and Portugal. Additionally, there is a recall for Connacht's Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Murphy.

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey form an veteran cohort of centre options. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the youngster is also a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at number 15.

Outside backs Lowe, Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are included. O'Brien impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the victories over the Lelos and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole new name in the Irish forwards. The front rower has started a couple of his province's URC United Rugby Championship games this season and featured in the second string's loss by the English in the English city earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was selected in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer selection, but did not receive a cap.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is retained, and experienced Northern province second row Henderson is back after missing the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for the captain if the skipper does not regain full fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in Dublin on the start of the week before traveling to Chicago on the following day.

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

Backline (15): Bundee Aki (Province), Caolin Blade (Province), Craig Casey (Munster), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Province), Jamison Gibson-Park (Province), Hansen (Province), Henshaw (Province), Lowe (Province), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), Tommy O'Brien (Province), Jamie Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Province), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Ulster).

Times BST

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