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Caelan Doris returns on bench as Dan Sheehan captains Ireland against New Zealand

Caelan Doris (l) has been sidelined since May with a shoulder injury, with Dan Sheehan (r) to captain Ireland on Saturday
Caelan Doris (l) has been sidelined since May with a shoulder injury, with Dan Sheehan (r) to captain Ireland on Saturday

Caelan Doris will make his return from injury against New Zealand on Saturday (8.10pm) in Chicago, with the Leinster number 8 named on the bench by head coach Andy Farrell.

Doris hasn't played since suffering a shoulder injury in early May, which ruled him out of the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, but is included for Saturday’s game at Soldier Field.

Leinster hooker Dan Sheehan will captain the team, one of 11 in the starting XV who featured on this summer’s Lions tour.

It will be Sheehan's second time captaining Ireland, after he filled in for Doris in the Six Nations win against Wales in Cardiff earlier this year.

As expected, Jack Crowley has been rewarded for his excellent start to the season with a start at out-half, getting the nod over Sam Prendergast who is among the replacements.

Stuart McCloskey has earned a start in the centre, with the Ulster man preferred to Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw.

11 October 2025; Paddy McCarthy of Leinster during the United Rugby Championship match between Leinster and Hollywoodbets Sharks at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leinster's Paddy McCarthy (above) is in line for his debut, with the 22-year-old named among the replacements.

Farrell has stuck with his first-choice front row of Sheehan, Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, after the trio started together in the second and third Lions Tests in Australia.

James Ryan partners Tadhg Beirne at lock, with Iain Henderson set for his first Ireland appearance since the opening round of the Six Nations off the bench.

Jack Conan will pack down at number 8, having started all three Lions Tests, with Josh van der Flier named on the openside flank. Ryan Baird has won the race to start at blindside flanker.

Jamison Gibson-Park is paired with Crowley in the half-backs, with McCloskey and Garry Ringrose the preferred centre combination.

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With Mack Hansen ruled out due to injury, Tommy O'Brien is picked on the right wing. The 27-year-old scored four tries in his first two caps against Georgia and Portugal this summer.

James Lowe starts against his native New Zealand on the left, while Jamie Osborne fills in at full-back as expected, in the absence of Hugo Keenan.

McCarthy will make his debut off the bench, joined by otherwise experienced front row options in Rónan Kelleher and Finlay Bealham.

Craig Casey, Prendergast and Aki are the backline replacements.

New Zealand coach Scott Robertson (above) has made four changes to his side for this weekend, but Leinster-bound Rieko Ioane has been left out of the matchday squad.

The versatile back, who has been the arch-villain in each of the last two meetings of these teams, was among the replacements for the final round of the Rugby Championship, but has failed to make the cut for Soldier Field.

Ethan de Groot returns from concussion to replace Tamaiti Williams at loosehead prop, joining Codie Taylor and Fletcher Newell in the front row.

The two other changes come in the backline, with Beauden Barrett coming in at out-half for Damian McKenzie, while Caleb Clarke starts in place of Leicester Fainga'anuku, who drops to the bench.


Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Tommy O’Brien, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Ryan Baird, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.

Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Paddy McCarthy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Caelan Doris, Craig Casey, Sam Prendergast, Bundee Aki.

New Zealand: Will Jordan; Leroy Carter, Quinn Tupaea, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Beauden Barrett, Cam Roigard; Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell; Scott Barrett (capt), Fabian Holland; Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Peter Lakai.

Replacements: Samisoni Taukei'aho, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Damian McKenzie.

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Follow a live blog of Ireland v New Zealand on Saturday from 8.10pm on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport.

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