Maro Itoje: 'Very realistic' that England captain misses all summer fixtures, says head coach Steve Borthwick

England captain Maro Itoje missing all three of his side's summer fixtures is "very realistic", according to head coach Steve Borthwick.

Itoje was left out of England's training squad ahead of the tournament and will be absent for a non-capped fixture against a France XV in Vannes on Friday, for which Borthwick named his line-up on Wednesday.

England then face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina in July in the inaugural edition of the Nations Championship.

Borthwick revealed in May that he had discussed the idea of resting Itoje for the tournament after what he called a "challenging year", including a British and Irish Lions tour, a demanding Six Nations campaign, and the death of his mother in November, alongside his commitments for Saracens.