FORMER Taunton Titans prop Ben Moon looks set to make his England debut on Saturday after being named on the bench for the opening Autumn International against South Africa.

Moon, a 29-year-old prop, scored three tries in 25 appearances for Taunton as a 17-year-old in the 2007/08 season and is now a key part of the Exeter Chiefs pack.

He came through the youth ranks at Cullompton RFC before joining Taunton and admitted in an interview with The Guardian this week that he thought his selection was a wind-up.

Moon said: “My first reaction was to think it was all a bit of a joke. Henry Slade was messaging and ringing me saying [the team manager] Richard Hill was trying to get hold of me. You think: ‘Yeah, of course he is.’

“I was actually at a kids’ party and I had no signal. There was a bouncy castle there and I was having a great time. When I finally walked out my phone was going mad and there was an unfamiliar number on it. I thought: ‘Maybe Sladey isn’t taking the mick.’"

Moon is one of five Exeter Chiefs players in the matchday squad for the match, which kicks off at 3pm on Saturday.

England: Elliot Daly; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te'o, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (co-captain), Ben Youngs; Alec Hepburn, Dylan Hartley (co-captain), Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Brad Shields, Tom Curry, Mark Wilson.

Replacements: Jamie George, Ben Moon, Harry Williams, Charlie Ewels, Zach Mercer, Danny Care, George Ford, Manu Tuilagi.