England call for 'reinforcements'
Leicester centre Anthony Allen was called into the England squad on Monday ahead of this weekend’s Test at home to Samoa.
The 24-year-old has been selected as cover for Wasps’s Dominic Waldouck, who suffered a facial injury playing against Bath in an Anglo-Welsh Cup fixture on Sunday.
Allen has not played for England since 2006 when he won caps against both New Zealand and Argentina.
Waldouck is being assessed by medical staff, while Wasps centre Riki Flutey continues his recovery from a calf injury suffered playing against Northampton on October 24.
But, even if fit, the trio face a fight on their hands to displace centres Shontayne Hape and Mike Tindall, who started in last weekend’s memorable 35-18 win over Australia at Twickenham.
However, much will depend on whether England manager Martin Johnson sticks with the side that won so well against the Wallabies or decides to rest players for the Samoa match ahead of the clash against world champions South Africa at Twickenham on November 27.
Johnson, England’s 2003 World Cup-winning captain, is due to name his side to play Samoa, who will come into the game on the back of a creditable 20-10 loss to Ireland in Dublin last weekend, on Wednesday.
