127th Varsity Match: Oxford University RUFC v Cambridge University RUFC
Venue: Twickenham Date: Thursday, 11 December Kick-off: 1400 GMT Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire 96FM, 95.7FM and 1026AM and online. Live on Sky Sports.

Cambridge are unbeaten in the last five Varsity matches

By Steve Jackson BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

Jon Dawson's team are, on the face of it, underdogs for the 127th Varsity Match.

This was also the case last season, as a poor run of results in the lead-up to the big day had Oxford firmly installed as favourites.

All Black Anton Oliver is the big name in the opposition line-up this term, but the Light Blues can boast a world giant of their own in 54-cap Australian international Dan Vickerman.

They too have an All Black, in centre Mark Ranby, and a US Eagle at scrum-half in Doug Rowe.

Going into a match of this magnitude without kicker and playmaker Ross Broadfoot, injured against Ospreys earlier in the term, presents its own problems.

Tony Rodgers has been head coach for the Light Blues for the past 25 years

Hooker Patrick Crossley says that they have a kicking full-back this season in Jimmy Richards, and Sandy Reid has done well moving to 10 from 12, so it's not all bad news.

"We look for a tipping point in the season and last Saturday's win against Aberavon was it," Crossley said.

The Light Blues' fixtures pit them against strong "A" teams from Premiership level clubs, so it's performances rather than results that count.

Crossley continues: "There's no point in putting in your Varsity match performance at the beginning of the season."

The 22-16 victory at Twickenham last December was unexpected and fully deserved as Cambridge spoiled Joe Roff's final appearance in world rugby with a gritty, determined performance.

Jon Dawson has the last word: "We're not looking at the past, we're a different set of players and are treating this as a one-off game.

"Oxford have had a very good season - they're a very good side."

The weight of current Varsity form is, however, in favour of the Light Blues, who will be confidently trying to make it six victories from the last seven attempts.

Cambridge head coach Tony Rodgers on Oxford:

"All season Oxford have tried to run the ball, and I assume they will try and do that in the Varsity Match.

"We're going to have to be very competitive in everything we do and very clinical. We're going to have kick well."

Cambridge captain Jon Dawson on leading the side:

"There is a lot of pressure because we want to do well, and I want to do well for the university.

"I guess I will be judged on the day, but I just want the team to play well and perform."

Cambridge winger James Wellwood on the 2007 win:

"The key thing for us last year was the solidarity in the team, we stuck at it through thick and thin.

"Certain things were lucky, but all in all we were a very close team and that kept us going."

Cambridge hooker Patrick Crossley on losing fly-half Ross Broadfoot:

"Losing Ross is a big blow to us, if nothing else for his kicking, but Sandy Reid has come at fly-half and done well.

"We also found a kicking full-back in Jimmy Richards which has helped, so we're really missing Broaders for his shouting more than anything."

Varsity Match facts:

The very first Varsity match was played in February 1872 at the Parks in Oxford. Oxford, in dark blue, beat Cambridge, who played in pink in a 20 a side game with no referee !

In the 126 matches since that day, Cambridge have won 60 times and Oxford 52.

There have been 14 draws, the most recent of which was in 2003, when the game finished 11-11.

The contest moved to Twickenham in 1921. During its early years, matches alternated between the Parks and Parkers Piece, before being played at neutral venues.

The record for the most individual points in a Varsity match was set by well-known rugby broadcaster Alastair Hignell, who scored 19 for Cambridge in 1975. David Humphreys matched that total for Oxford in 1995.

Alastair Hignell is the leading Varsity match scorer with 45 points in 4 games (1974-77). Gareth Rees holds the corresponding record for Oxford (28 points in 2 matches).

Last five matches:

6th December 2007 - Cambridge beat Oxford 22-16

12th December 2006 - Cambridge beat Oxford 15-6

6th December 2005 - Cambridge beat Oxford 31-16

7th December 2004 - Oxford beat Cambridge 11-18

9th December 2003 - Cambridge drew with Oxford 11-11

10th December 2002 - Cambridge beat Oxford 15-13

2008 key stats:

Heaviest Player: Dan Vickerman (Cambridge #5), 120 kg

Lightest Player: Doug Rowe (Cambridge #9), 77 kg

Tallest player : Nicholas Van Zyl (Oxford #18) and Dan Vickerman (Cambridge #5), both 6 ft 7 in

Oldest Player : Anton Oliver (Oxford #2 ), 33 yrs

Youngest Player : Sean Morris (Oxford #14), 19 yrs

Light Blues Team:

15. Jimmy Richards (Hughes Hall)

14. James Wellwood * (St Edmund's)

13. Chris Lewis * (St Catharine's)

12. Mark Ranby # (St Edmund's)

11. James Greenwood * (Hughes Hall)

10. Sandy Reid * (St John's)

9. Doug Rowe # (Hughes Hall)

1. Niall Conlon (St Edmund's)

2. Matt Crockett (St Edmund's)

3. Jon Dawson * (Captain, St Edmund's)

4. Marty Wilson (Selwyn)

5. Dan Vickerman # (Hughes Hall)

6. Will Jones (St Edmund's)

7. Tom Malaney * (St Edmund's)

8. Trevor Boynton * (Hughes Hall)

Replacements:

16. Andy Daniel (St Edmund's)

17. Patrick Crossley (Homerton)

18. Conor O`Keeffe (St Edmund's)

19. Charlie Rees * (St Catharine's)

20. Joe Wheeler * (St Edmund's )

21. Rhidian McGuire (Hughes Hall)

22. Scott MacLellan (St John's)

* Denotes Blue

# Denotes International

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