Ireland rugby squad: 'Few new faces as Andy Farrell opts for continuity'
After a summer squad filled with uncapped players while the frontline players were on British and Irish Lions duty, Andy Farrell's panel for next month's autumn internationals has a much more settled and familiar look to it. In fact, Paddy McCarthy is the only uncapped player in the 34-man squad for Tests against New Zealand, Japan, Australia and South Africa with Farrell - who is back from his Lions sabbatical - opting against a radical shake-up of his formula.The Leinster loose-head prop was part of interim boss Paul O'Connell's squad for the summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal, but did not earn a cap with Jack Boyle and Michael Milne preferred.McCarthy, 22, had a stellar Under-20 career. He was the starting tight-head in Ireland's 2023 U20 Six Nations Grand Slam triumph and was a standout performer in the U20 World Championship in South Africa later that year. The younger brother of injured Ireland lock Joe McCarthy, he made appearances off the bench for Leinster across the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before making his first start against the Bulls earlier this month.McCarthy is one of eight Leinster front rowers in the squad alongside Jack Boyle, Thomas Clarkson, Tadhg Furlong, Andrew Porter, Gus McCarthy, Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher. While not officially in the squad, three more players - Edwin Edogbo, Brian Gleeson and Shayne Bolton - will travel to Chicago for the All Blacks game as "cover". Edogbo is certainly an interesting selection. The 22-year-old Munster lock only recently returned from a near two-year injury nightmare and will have his first chance to impress the Ireland coaches. While not uncapped, Thomas Ahern is a relatively new name in the squad. The 6ft 9ins lock played against Georgia and Portugal, but the 25-year-old could be set for the biggest month of his career.Tommy O'Brien is the least experienced back at this level. His two caps came in the summer - yielding four tries - but he will be determined to battle Mack Hansen for the number 14 jersey. Of course, if Farrell opts to try out Hansen at full-back, O'Brien's Test career could be about to take off.
