Caelan Doris Makes Ireland Selection But Joe McCarthy Left Out

Newly reappointed head coach Andy Farrell has selected skipper Caelan Doris in his Irish squad for the fall Tests, however Joe McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, absent from play since undergoing shoulder surgery in early May, recently returned to Leinster training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be ready to face New Zealand in the US on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, on the other hand, did not make the cut after not recovering from the foot injury he sustained during the first Lions match against the Wallabies in July.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and southern province wing Calvin Nash also miss out because of fitness concerns, and full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery following the summer tour.

Leinster forward Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the only uncapped player in the 34-player squad, however the Irish Rugby Football Union says uncapped Munster pair Edwin Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped Connacht winger Shayne Bolton will head to the US as "backup".

After playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a rematch of their previous meeting, the team host the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world title holders the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced players and for those who made their debuts on the summer tour to the Lelos and the Lobos," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Prendergast and the southern club's Crowley will once again compete for the first-choice number 10 spot. The fly-half role is still available, as Prendergast and Crowley set to face off for the first time in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third number 10 chosen as the coach deciding not to selecting the province's Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has selected Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained Ireland to the summer Test victories over Georgia and Portugal. Additionally, there is a recall for the western province's Caolin Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of centre choices. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, though the youngster is also a leading candidate to deputise for the full-back at number 15.

Outside backs James Lowe, Mack Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. O'Brien impressed on his first Ireland outings over the summer with a brace each in the victories over the Lelos and the Lobos.

Paddy McCarthy is the sole fresh addition in the Irish pack. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of his province's URC league matches so far and played in Ireland A's defeat by the English in the English city earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in caretaker coach O'Connell's summer selection, but did not earn a cap.

Southern province lock Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those Tests, is kept in the squad, while experienced Northern province second row Iain Henderson returns after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to cover for the captain if the skipper fails to recover full fitness in time to face New Zealand.

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

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

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

Kick-off times

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