Doris Makes Irish Selection While Joe McCarthy Omitted

Returning head coach the Ireland coach has named captain Caelan Doris in his Ireland team for the fall Tests, however Joe McCarthy misses out.

Doris, who has not played since undergoing shoulder surgery in early May, recently returned to provincial training, with doubts lingering whether he will be fit to face New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Second row McCarthy, however, was not considered after not recovering from the foot issue he sustained during the first Lions Test against Australia in July.

Northern province forward Izuchukwu and Munster winger Nash are also absent because of fitness concerns, and number 15 Keenan was previously excluded after undergoing a hip operation following the summer tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-player group, but Irish rugby authorities says uncapped Munster duo Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped western province wing Bolton will travel to the US as "backup".

After playing the All Blacks at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, the team host Japan, Australia and world title holders the Springboks in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the squad and there's an opportunity for the veteran players and for the newcomers on the summer tour to the Lelos and Portugal," commented Farrell, back to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to lead the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a mostly experienced selection, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again vie for the starting fly-half spot. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first occasion in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Frawley is the additional fly-half selected with Farrell deciding not to selecting the province's Byrne.

At scrum-half, the Ireland boss has picked Lions tourist Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who led the national side to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a recall for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

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

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

McCarthy is the only new addition in the Irish forwards. The loose-head prop has been in two of Leinster's URC league matches this season and played in the second string's defeat by England in the English city earlier this year.

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

Munster lock Ahern, who received his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, and experienced Ulster lock Iain Henderson returns after sitting out the summer matches.

Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests over the summer, is poised to deputise for the captain if the skipper fails to recover fitness soon enough to face the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in the capital on Monday before flying to Chicago on Tuesday.

Forwards (19): Thomas Ahern (Province), Ryan Baird (Province), Bealham (Connacht), Tadhg Beirne (Munster), Jack Boyle (Province), Clarkson (Province), Jack Conan (Province), Doris (Leinster, capt), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Ulster), Ronan Kelleher (Leinster), Gus McCarthy (Leinster), P McCarthy (Province), Porter (Province), Cian Prendergast (Connacht), James Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Nick Timoney (Province), Josh van der Flier (Leinster).

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

Kick-off times

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