Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Selection But McCarthy Misses Out

Newly reappointed manager the Ireland coach has selected captain Doris in his Irish roster for the fall internationals, but lock McCarthy misses out.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in early May, has come back to provincial training, with doubts lingering if he will be ready to play against the All Blacks in Chicago on November 1.

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

Ulster player Izuchukwu and southern province winger Calvin Nash also miss out due to injury, while number 15 Hugo Keenan had already been ruled out after undergoing hip surgery following the Lions tour.

Dublin province prop Paddy McCarthy - the brother of Joe - is the sole uncapped member in the 34-man group, but Irish rugby authorities says uncapped Munster duo Edwin Edogbo and Brian Gleeson and previously capped Connacht wing Bolton will travel to Chicago as "cover".

Following playing the New Zealand at the Chicago stadium in a repeat of their 2016 encounter, Ireland host Japan, Australia and world champions the Springboks in the Irish capital.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and there's an opportunity for the veteran players and for those who made their debuts on the recent tour to the Lelos and Portugal," said the coach, back to Ireland duty after taking a sabbatical to coach the British and Irish Lions to the southern hemisphere.

In a largely familiar-looking selection, the Dublin club's Prendergast and the southern club's Jack Crowley will again vie for the first-choice fly-half position. The number 10 jersey is still available, as the two players set to face off for the first time in the upcoming United Rugby Championship game at the Dublin venue.

Frawley is the additional number 10 selected as the coach opting against calling up Leinster's Harry Byrne.

At number 9, the Ireland boss has selected Lions tourist Gibson-Park and Casey, who led the national side to the summer international wins over Georgia and Portugal. There is also a return for Connacht's Blade, chosen to teammate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey represent an experienced cohort of centre options. Jamie Osborne is another option in the centres, but the 23-year-old is additionally a frontrunner to cover for Keenan at full-back.

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

Paddy McCarthy is the sole new addition in the Ireland pack. The front rower has started a couple of Leinster's URC United Rugby Championship matches so far and played in Ireland A's defeat by the English in the English city earlier this year.

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

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

Jack Conan, who started each of the Lions matches over the summer, is set to cover for the captain if the captain fails to recover fitness in time to play the All Blacks.

The national team will assemble in Dublin on the start of the week before flying to Chicago on Tuesday.

Pack (19): Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Province), Finlay Bealham (Province), Tadhg Beirne (Province), Boyle (Leinster), Clarkson (Province), Jack Conan (Province), Caelan Doris (Province, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Henderson (Province), Kelleher (Leinster), G McCarthy (Province), P McCarthy (Province), Porter (Province), C Prendergast (Connacht), Ryan (Leinster), Dan Sheehan (Leinster), Timoney (Province), van der Flier (Province).

Backline (15): Aki (Province), Caolin Blade (Province), Craig Casey (Province), Jack Crowley (Province), Frawley (Leinster), Jamison Gibson-Park (Province), Hansen (Connacht), Robbie Henshaw (Leinster), Lowe (Leinster), Stuart McCloskey (Ulster), O'Brien (Province), Osborne (Leinster), S Prendergast (Leinster), Ringrose (Leinster), Jacob Stockdale (Province).

Kick-off times

• The national team v New Zealand, 1 November, Chicago (20:10)
• The side v Japan, 8 November, Dublin (12:40)
• The team v the Wallabies, 15 November, Aviva Stadium (20:10)
• The Irish v the Springboks, 22 November, Aviva Stadium (17:40)