Caelan Doris Makes Ireland Team But Joe McCarthy Left Out

Newly reappointed manager the Ireland coach has included skipper Caelan Doris in his Ireland squad for the autumn internationals, however lock McCarthy is absent.

The captain, absent from play since undergoing a shoulder operation in the start of May, recently returned to provincial training, but it remains unclear whether he will be fit to play against the All Blacks in Chicago on 1 November.

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster player Cormac Izuchukwu and Munster wing Nash are also absent because of injury, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having a hip operation following the summer tour.

Leinster forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new player in the 34-man squad, but Irish rugby authorities says uncapped provincial duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "reserves".

Following facing the New Zealand at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa in the Irish capital.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the veteran players and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will once again vie for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is remains available, with the two players poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional fly-half chosen with Farrell deciding not to selecting Leinster's Harry Byrne.

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

Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and McCloskey represent an experienced group of centre options. Jamie Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, though the youngster is also a frontrunner to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. O'Brien impressed on his national team debut over the summer with a brace each in the victories over the Lelos and Portugal.

McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Irish forwards. The front rower has started a couple of Leinster's URC league matches this season and featured in Ireland A's loss by the English in the English city previously.

McCarthy was included in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer squad, but did not receive a cap.

Munster second row Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those matches, is kept in the squad, and veteran Northern province lock Iain Henderson is back after missing the summer matches.

Conan, who played in each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is poised to cover for Doris if the skipper does not regain fitness soon enough to play the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in Dublin on Monday before traveling to the US on Tuesday.

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

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

Kick-off times

• Ireland v New Zealand, 1 November, 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 the Springboks, November 22, Aviva Stadium (17:40)