Rugby: 'Heaven or hell' battle looms for varsity rivals

Published on Wednesday 9 December 2009 23:11

OXFORD coach Steve Hill claims it is a game that can take the participants either to heaven or hell, and he does not expect anything different this afternoon when Oxford and Cambridge renew their fierce rivalry in the 128th Varsity Match.

Both sides have a tough act to follow after last year's Twickenham feast when a thrilling 33-29 victory for Oxford produced the highest-scoring contest in the fixture's 137-year history.

Oxford will be led by three-time Blue Dan Rosen, while wing Tim Catling – who scored three tries in Oxford's win last season – former Sale Sharks flanker John Carter, Canada international Stan McKeen and ex-amateur Springboks skipper Nicholas van Zyl also feature. Australia lock Dan Vickerman, capped 55 times, skippers a Cambridge side that also includes former Leicester stand-off Ross Broadfoot and former Ulster prop Niall Conlon.

"It is the only rugby game where you spend 364 days preparing for it," said Oxford rugby director Hill. "You only have 80 minutes, and the whole season rests on it. If you win you are in heaven – if you lose you are in hell."

Oxford, whose preparations have again been assisted this year by former England head coach Brian Ashton, will arrive at Twickenham in free-scoring form. They recently beat Cambridge 40-0 in the annual second team fixture, while Catling and his fellow wing Will Browne have posted 20 tries between them this term.

Cambridge, though, have the considerable motivation of avenging last year's defeat, when they more than played their part in an eight-try spectacular.

Broadfoot, who missed that game due to injury, said: "Last year was a whirlwind of emotions, and it's taken nine months to a year to get fit again."

Cambridge lead the Varsity series by 60 wins to 53, with 14 matches having been drawn.

Oxford University: C Mahony (Keble); W Browne (Balliol), A Cheeseman (St Edmund Hall). J Allfrey (Green Templeton), T Catling (Pembroke); R Swanson (New), N Haydon (University); R Lutton (Linacre), D Rosen (Worcester, capt), O Tomaszczyk (Brasenose), I Kench (St Cross), N van Zyl (Green Templeton), J Carter (Kellogg), S McKeen (Harris Manchester), C Davies (St Edmund Hall). Replacements: D Rogers (St Cross), W Johnson (Pembroke), K Outen (St Edmund Hall), M Tosa (Lady Margaret Hall), W Klopper (Green Templeton), R James (St Catherine's), S Morris (Somerville), G Oliver (Green Templeton).

Cambridge University: J Richards (Hughes Hall); J Greenwood (Hughes Hall), F Shepherd ((St Edmund's), F Burdon (St John's), D Riley (Hughes Hall); R Broadfoot (Hughes Hall), D Rowe (Hughes Hall); N Conlon (St Edmund's), P Crossley (Homerton), T Harris (Churchill), W Jones (St Edmund's), D Vickerman (Hughes Hall, capt), E White (Jesus), J Wheeler (St Edmund's), B Maidment (St Edmund's). Replacements: J Gilbert (St Edmund's), A Daniel (St Edmund's), P Anuvatnujotikul (Girton), H Henderson (St Edmund's), J Hood (Hughes Hall), S Reid (St John's), W Balfour (Queens), A Cheetham (St John's).

Referee: Dean Richards (RFU)