Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Squad But McCarthy Left Out

Returning head coach Andy Farrell has selected captain Caelan Doris in his Irish roster for the autumn Tests, but Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

The captain, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to provincial training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be fit to play against the All Blacks in the US on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the first British and Irish Lions Test against Australia in the summer.

Northern province player Izuchukwu and southern province wing Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having hip surgery after the Lions tour.

Dublin province prop McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only new member in the 34-player group, but the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province wing Bolton will head to the US as "cover".

After facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, Ireland will play Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for the newcomers on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, who returns to Ireland duty after a break to lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again compete for the starting fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still available, with Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's URC game at Croke Park.

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

At number 9, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer Test wins over the Lelos and Portugal. There is also a return for the western province's Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

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

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Stockdale are named. O'Brien shone on his national team debut during the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and the Lobos.

McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Ireland forwards. The loose-head prop has been in two of his province's URC league matches so far and featured in the second string's defeat by England in Bristol earlier this year.

The 22-year-old was included in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer selection, yet did not earn a international appearance.

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

Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests over the summer, is set to cover for Doris if the skipper does not regain full fitness soon enough to play New Zealand.

The Ireland squad will meet in the capital on the start of the week before traveling to the US on the following day.

Forwards (19): Ahern (Province), Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Province), Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Province, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Province), Henderson (Ulster), Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Leinster), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Province), Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

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

Kick-off times

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