Johns led the team on last summer's tour to South Africa and the selectors have turned to him again in the wake of hooker Keith Wood's contractual dispute with the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Wood refused to attend training on Tuesday because of a clause obliging players to take part in promotional work for the IRFU's five principal sponsors.

His decision means Ross Nesdale is likely to take over when the final XV is named for the game with Georgia at Lansdowne Road, Dublin on November 14. The Romanian match takes place seven days later.

Flanker Trevor Brennan was not considered for their 26-man squad because of a groin injury and loose-head prop Reggie Corrigan is still not match fit after being injured in their first game in South Africa.

The Ireland squad is:

Backs: C O'Shea (London Irish), G Dempsey (Terenure C), J Bishop (London Irish), K Maggs (Bath), D O'Mahony (Bedford), R Henderson (Wasps), J Bell (Dungannon), P Duignan (Galwegians), E Elwood (Galwegians), D Humphreys (Dungannon), C McGuinness (St Mary's), C Scally (UCD).