Caelan Doris is expected to lead Ireland against New Zealand in Chicago on Saturday after being confirmed fit for the game at Soldier Field.
Doris underwent shoulder surgery following Leinster’s Champions Cup semi-final loss to Northampton on May 3 and has not played since, but was one of 36 players to train at Chicago’s SeatGeek Stadium on Tuesday afternoon, giving Andy Farrell a full squad bar following the loss of Mark Hansen.
“Everyone is trained and ready,” forwards coach Paul O’Connell told reporters in Chicago.
“(Doris) has had a very good return period now and he’s had a good few weeks,” he added. “I barely cared about him or anything like that.
“There’s the idea of starting someone like that because he might come in a minute anyway, and there’s another idea of getting him off the bench. He’s fine, he’s trained really well, he feels really good and I’m not seeing any side effects.”
Farrell is expected to name his team on Thursday and will know the All Blacks, who finished second in the Rugby Championship on points behind South Africa, have a match fitness advantage over his side.
“It’s definitely a challenge, which is why we finished a little early,” O’Connell added. “It allowed us to overcome jet lag, or most of it, and have two really good, quick training sessions with a bit of contact and get the players up to speed.
“It’s definitely a challenge, but I think the sessions we’ve put in place are designed to help people on that journey.”
Ireland Autumn Nations Series Schedule
November 1st
Ireland v New Zealand – Soldier Field, Chicago (8:00 PM GMT)
November 8
Ireland v Japan – Aviva Stadium (12.40pm)
November 15th
Ireland v Australia – Aviva Stadium (8.10pm)
November 22nd
Ireland v South Africa – Aviva Stadium (5.40pm)
