Stockdale back as Farrell calls up six
ULSTER winger Jacob Stockdale has returned to the Ireland squad after a 15-month absence as head coach Andy Farrell named six uncapped players in a 37-man group for the autumn Tests.
Ireland, top of the world rankings after their 2-1 series win in New Zealand in July, will face world champions South Africa, Fiji and Australia in Dublin in November.
Stockdale returns following a lengthy injury lay-off – his last cap coming in July 2021 – while Leinster's James Lowe misses out with a calf problem.
Captained by Johnny Sexton, Ireland will have six players looking to make their senior Test debuts – Ciaran Frawley, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien and Cian Prendergast.
Ireland squad
BACKS: Robert Baloucoune, Joey Carbery, Craig Casey, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, Michael Lowry, Conor Murray, Stuart McCloskey, Calvin Nash, Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, Jonathan Sexton (c), Jacob Stockdale
FORWARDS: Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Jack Conan, Gavin Coombes, Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong, Dave Heffernan, Cian Healy, Rob Herring, Jeremy Loughman, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Dan Sheehan, Nick Timoney, Kieran Treadwell, Josh van der Flier
There is no return yet for second row Iain Henderson, who has not been included as he works his way back from a hand injury that has sidelined him since the tour of New Zealand.
Winger Robert Baloucoune, who was part of the Emerging Ireland squad that played three Tests in South Africa earlier this month, is joined in the back three by Stockdale and Mike Lowry, while centre Stuart McCloskey also gets a recall.
With Bundee Aki banned for the first two games due to a dangerous clearout last month, head coach Farrell names just three centres in his squad with McCloskey offering competition to Robbie Henshaw and Garry Ringrose.
Up front, prop Tom O'Toole and hooker Rob Herring are retained in the front row, with second row Kieran Treadwell rewarded for his incredible summer performances with another call-up and flanker Nick Timoney is also included.
