Doris Secures Spot in Ireland Team But Joe McCarthy Misses Out

Returning manager the Ireland coach has selected skipper Doris in his Irish team for the fall matches, however Joe McCarthy is absent.

Doris, absent from play since having a shoulder operation in early May, recently returned to provincial training, though his fitness is uncertain whether he will be fit to play against New Zealand in Chicago on November 1.

Lock McCarthy, however, did not make the cut after failing to recover from the foot injury suffered during the opening Lions match against Australia in July.

Ulster forward Izuchukwu and southern province winger Nash are not included due to fitness concerns, while full-back Keenan had already been ruled out after having hip surgery after the summer tour.

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

After facing the All Blacks at Soldier Field in a repeat of their 2016 meeting, the team will play the Brave Blossoms, Australia and world title holders the Springboks in Dublin.

"It's an exciting group to the panel and it's a chance for the more experienced players 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 lead the British and Irish Lions to Australia.

In a mostly experienced selection, the Dublin club's Sam Prendergast and Munster's Jack Crowley will once again compete for the starting fly-half position. The fly-half role is still up for grabs, as Prendergast and Crowley poised to face off for the first occasion in the upcoming United Rugby Championship match at Croke Park.

Frawley is the third fly-half chosen with the coach opting against selecting the province's Byrne.

At number 9, Farrell has selected British and Irish Lion Jamison Gibson-Park and Craig Casey, who captained the national side to the summer Test victories over Georgia and the Lobos. There is also a return for the western province's Blade, chosen to club-mate Murphy.

Henshaw, Bundee Aki, Garry Ringrose and Stuart McCloskey form an experienced group of midfield options. Osborne is a further choice in the midfield, but the 23-year-old is also a frontrunner to cover for the full-back at full-back.

Wingers Lowe, Hansen, Tommy O'Brien and Stockdale are named. The winger shone on his national team debut during the summer with a brace each in the wins over Georgia 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 three United Rugby Championship matches so far and played in the second string's loss by the English in Bristol earlier this year.

McCarthy was selected in interim boss Paul O'Connell's summer selection, but did not earn a cap.

Southern province second row Thomas Ahern, who earned his debut appearances in those Tests, is retained, and veteran Ulster lock Iain Henderson is back after sitting out the summer matches.

Jack Conan, who played in all three Lions Tests over the summer, is set to cover for Doris if the skipper does not regain full fitness soon enough to face the All Blacks.

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

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

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

Kick-off times

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