Doris Makes Irish Team While McCarthy Left Out

Returning manager the Ireland coach has named skipper Doris in his Irish team for the autumn matches, however lock McCarthy has been excluded.

Doris, who has not played since having shoulder surgery in the start of May, recently returned to Leinster training, but it remains unclear if he will be fit to face New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Second row Joe McCarthy, on the other hand, was not considered after not recovering from the foot injury he sustained during the opening Lions Test against the Wallabies in the summer.

Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu and southern province wing Nash are not included because of injury, and full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing a hip operation following the Lions tour.

Dublin province forward McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole new player in the 34-man squad, however Irish rugby authorities states new provincial duo Edogbo and Gleeson and previously capped western province winger Bolton will travel to Chicago as "reserves".

Following playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, the team host Japan, Australia and world title holders South Africa in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced members and for the newcomers on the summer tour to Georgia and Portugal," commented the coach, who returns to national team duties after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a largely familiar-looking squad, Leinster's Sam Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will once again vie for the first-choice fly-half spot. The number 10 jersey is still available, with Prendergast and Crowley poised to play against each other for the first time in Saturday's URC match at the Dublin venue.

Ciaran Frawley is the additional number 10 selected with the coach opting against calling up the province's Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has picked British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test wins over the Lelos and Portugal. Additionally, there is a return for Connacht's Caolin Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an veteran cohort of midfield choices. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, but the youngster is additionally a leading candidate to cover for Keenan at number 15.

Outside backs James Lowe, Hansen, O'Brien and Jacob Stockdale are included. The winger shone on his first Ireland outings over the summer with two tries apiece in the wins over the Lelos and Portugal.

Paddy McCarthy is the sole fresh name in the Irish forwards. The loose-head prop has been in a couple of his province's URC United Rugby Championship matches so far and featured in Ireland A's loss by England in Bristol earlier this year.

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

Southern province second row Ahern, who earned his first two caps in those matches, is kept in the squad, and veteran Ulster lock Iain Henderson returns after sitting out the summer tour.

Conan, who started each of the Lions Tests during the tour, is set to deputise for the captain if the skipper fails to recover fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The Ireland squad will assemble in the capital on the start of the week before flying to Chicago on Tuesday.

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

Backline (15): Aki (Province), Blade (Province), Craig Casey (Province), Crowley (Province), Ciaran Frawley (Leinster), Gibson-Park (Province), Mack Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), James Lowe (Province), Stuart McCloskey (Province), Tommy O'Brien (Leinster), Osborne (Leinster), Sam Prendergast (Province), Garry Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Province).

Kick-off times

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