England Championship Team: Captain Maro Itoje rests as Noah Kalori wins wing spot

Exeter’s uncapped Greg Fisilau is the second eight behind first-choice Ben Earl, opposite Alex Dombrant.

Guy Pepper recovers from injury and takes his place in the back row, while George Kloska and Vilekesa Sela make their first cup debuts.

The absence of Itoje, who recently posted pictures of himself on social media on holiday in Mauritius, opens up opportunities for others in the second row.

In the year George Martin, whose impressive performance against South Africa in the 2023 Rugby World Cup semi-final, will be front of mind for head coach Steve Borthwick, who recently returned from a 14-month layoff with multiple injuries, will hope to add to Gloucester’s Arthur Clarke win over the United States in July.

In the front row, Asher Opoku-Fordjour – usually a tighthead – also covers the loosehead, with Ellis Genge recently recovering from a calf complaint and Bevan Rodd and Finn Baxter ruled out.

Borthwick’s selections, with only Emmanuel Fay-Waboso and Cadan Murley as specialist wingers alongside Calori, hint at a possible return for Tommy Freeman, who has started four of England’s five-six away games.

Borthwick admits the itinerary thrown out by the new Nations Championship – which replaces the usual one-stop summer tour of northern hemisphere countries – will present a new challenge.

After beating world champions South Africa at the height of Johannesburg, England head to the small Argentinian city of Santiago del Estero to face the Pumas before taking on Fiji in Liverpool.

“We have selected a team with a good mix of experience and fresh talent,” said Borthwick.

“The Nations Championship will provide an exciting challenge for this team. We will face strong opposition in demanding environments, with extensive travel and changing weather conditions testing the team during the tournament.

“By continuing to prepare well and continue to demand high standards of each other every day, we will be in a good position to meet the challenge of a very difficult summer schedule.”