Caelan Doris Secures Spot in Irish Team But McCarthy Left Out

Newly reappointed head coach Andy Farrell has included skipper Caelan Doris in his Irish roster for the autumn internationals, however lock McCarthy is absent.

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

Lock Joe McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after failing to recover from the foot issue suffered during the first British and Irish Lions match against Australia in July.

Northern province player Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash are not included because of fitness concerns, and number 15 Hugo Keenan was previously excluded after having hip surgery following the summer tour.

Dublin province prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new member in the 34-player group, but Irish rugby authorities states new provincial pair Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped western province wing Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

Following facing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, the team host Japan, the Wallabies and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the more experienced players and for the newcomers on the summer tour to the Lelos and Portugal," said the coach, back to national team duties after a break to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely experienced selection, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will again vie for the starting fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to play against each other for the first time in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 chosen with Farrell deciding not to calling up Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who led Ireland to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Garry Ringrose and McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of centre choices. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, though the youngster is also a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at full-back.

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

Paddy McCarthy is the only fresh addition in the Irish pack. The front rower has been in two of his province's URC league games this season and played in the second string's defeat by England in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in caretaker coach Paul O'Connell's summer squad, yet did not earn a cap.

Munster lock Thomas Ahern, who received his debut appearances in those matches, is retained, and experienced Ulster second row Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who started all three Lions matches during the tour, is poised to deputise for Doris should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to face the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before flying to Chicago on the following day.

Pack (19): Ahern (Munster), Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Province), Beirne (Province), Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Leinster), Conan (Province), Doris (Province, capt), Furlong (Province), Iain Henderson (Province), Ronan Kelleher (Province), G McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Province), Andrew Porter (Province), C Prendergast (Province), James Ryan (Province), Sheehan (Province), Nick Timoney (Province), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Times BST

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