Allen could break Rec spell

One To WATCH When former Bath star and World Cup winner MikeTindall insists his Gloucester teammate Anthony Allen is ready forinternational rugby, his old clubmates would do well to heed thewarning ahead of tomorrow's Guinness Premiership date with theCherry and Whites.

Tindall first extolled the young centre's virtues ahead of hisEngland debut in November 2006 when England, still playing underAndy Robinson, took on the All Blacks to declare Twickenham's newSouth Stand open despite its lack of a roof.

The then 20-year-old was thrown in at the deep end by Robinsonand, like most of the England players that Sunday afternoon, hespent more time sinking than swimming.

Since then, Allen has missed out on a 2007 World Cup call-up - hewas axed by Brian Ashton early on in England's summer preparations -but he has become a key figure in Gloucester's back-line.

He first made his mark at the beginning of last season and hefinished the 2006-07 campaign on a high, playing alongside Tindalluntil the 2003 World Cup star broke his leg at Newcastle in April -an injury which, ultimately, cost Tindall his chance of playing in asecond World Cup.

This season, Tindall has come back with a bang and his midfieldpartnership with Allen has seen his cigar- smoking try celebrationso familiar to Bath fans reappear on the match-day menu atKingsholm.

This season, Allen has 13 appearances and four tries under hisbelt - two touchdowns in the Premiership and another two in theHeineken Cup under his belt, taking his career tallies to 54appearances and 19 tries.

A virtual ever-present at inside centre, playing alongsideanother young Kingsholm production line graduate in fly-half RyanLamb, Allen has been a key figure in Gloucester's back-line chargedwith helping Lamb release the likes of Tindall, James Simpson-Daniel, Lesley Vainikolo and full-back Iain Balshaw.

It is Bath's proud boast and a sad fact for Gloucester that theCherry and Whites have never won a Premiership match at The Rec,although they came close last season when a titanic battle finishedall-square at 21-21.

Another draw is unlikely and, if Allen is allowed to parade thetalent which could have him in line for an RBS 6 NationsChampionship call-up this month, Bath could see that record undone.