Caelan Doris Makes Irish Selection While McCarthy Left Out

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has selected captain Caelan Doris in his Irish team for the fall matches, but lock McCarthy has been excluded.

The captain, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in the start of May, has come back to Leinster training, but it remains unclear if he will be ready to face the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1.

Lock Joe McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot injury he sustained during the first Lions match against Australia in July.

Northern province player Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash are not included because of fitness concerns, and full-back Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after having a hip operation after the Lions tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - Joe's younger brother - is the sole uncapped member in the 34-man squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and once-capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will travel to the US as "backup".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their 2016 meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, the Wallabies and world champions South Africa in Dublin.

"There's an exciting look to the squad and it's a chance for the more experienced members and for the newcomers on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," said Farrell, back to national team duties after a break to coach the Lions tour to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly experienced selection, Leinster's Prendergast and Munster's Crowley will once again compete for the starting fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, as the two players poised to play against each other for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third fly-half selected as Farrell opting against selecting the province's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has selected Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer international victories over the Lelos and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Caolin Blade, who is preferred to club-mate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Aki, Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of midfield options. Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for Keenan at number 15.

Wingers Lowe, Mack Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are named. O'Brien impressed on his first Ireland outings during the summer with a brace each in the victories over Georgia and Portugal.

McCarthy is the only new addition in the Irish pack. The loose-head prop has started a couple of his province's URC United Rugby Championship games so far and played in the second string's defeat by the English in Bristol earlier this year.

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

Southern province lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is retained, while experienced Ulster lock Henderson is back after missing the summer tour.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests during the tour, is set to cover for Doris should the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to face the All Blacks.

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

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Finlay Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Boyle (Leinster), Clarkson (Province), Conan (Leinster), Caelan Doris (Province, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), G McCarthy (Province), Paddy McCarthy (Province), Andrew Porter (Leinster), Cian Prendergast (Province), Ryan (Leinster), Sheehan (Province), Timoney (Ulster), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Kick-off times

• Ireland v New Zealand, 1 November, Soldier Field (20:10)
• The side v Japan, 8 November, Aviva Stadium (12:40)
• The team v Australia, November 15, Dublin (20:10)
• The Irish v South Africa, November 22, Aviva Stadium (17:40)