Varsity rivals meet again

Vickerman: 54 Wallabies caps

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Former Test stars Dan Vickerman and Anton Oliver will be familiar foes in unfamiliar surroundings when they lock horns in the 127th Nomura Varsity Match at Twickenham next Thursday.

Cambridge lock Vickerman retired from Test rugby this year after helping Australia finish second in the Tri-Nations, while hooker Oliver hung up his international boots following New Zealand's World Cup quarter-final defeat by France 14 months ago.

The pair shared a trans-Tasman rivalry at Test and Super 12 and 14 level for the best part of seven years and on Thursday they will renew acquaintances in one of the game's oldest fixtures.

Vickerman is only 29 and would have still been involved with the Wallabies had he not called a day on his Test career after 54 caps in pursuit of a "world-class education" and a degree in land economy at Hughes Hall, Cambridge.

Cambridge have struggled this term and have been without influential former professional fly-half Ross Broadfoot, whose ankle is in plaster.

But Sean Edwards, the Wasps and Wales coach, will ensure they are tuned up for next Thursday's clash by taking a few coaching sessions over the weekend.

Edwards has been working with Cambridge for the last six years, and coach Tony Rodgers said: "He is fantastic, such a motivator."

The Oxford team includes Oliver and former Canada flanker Stan McKeen but also inexperienced faces like freshman winger Sean Morris and 19-year-old fly-half Ross Swanson.

Dark Blues captain Peter Clarke said: "Leaders like these guys will bring invaluable experience, especially for our younger players."

Cambridge won last year's clash 22-16 and lead the series 60-52 with 14 draws.

Teams for the 127th Nomura Varsity Match, Oxford versus Cambridge, Twickenham, December 11; kick-off 2pm:

Oxford: C Mahony (Keble) ; S Morris (Somerville), J Burnett (University), T Gregory (Kellogg), T Catling (Pembroke); R Swanson (New), B McKerchar (Keble) ; R Lutton (Linacre), A Oliver (Worcester), W Thompson (St Cross), I Kench (St Cross), B Payne (St Peter's), S McKeen (Harris Manchester), P Clarke (St Cross, capt), P Wright (University).
Replacements: D Rosen (Worcester), K Davis (Linacre) or Will Johnson (Pembroke), N Van Zyl (Green/Templeton) , C Davies (St Edmund Hall), T Henry (Linacre), A Cheesman (St Edmund Hall), W Browne (Balliol).

Cambridge: J Richards (Hughes Hall); J Wellwood (St Edmund's), C Lewis (St. Catharine's), M Ranby (St. Edmund's), J Greenwood (Hughes Hall); S Reid (St. John's), D Rowe (Hughes Hall); N Conlon (St Edmund's), M Crockett (St Edmund's), J Dawson (St Edmund's, capt), M Wilson (Selwyn), D Vickerman (Hughes Hall), W Jones (St Edmund's), T Malaney (St Edmund's), T Boynton (Hughes Hall).
Replacements: A Daniel (St Edmund's), P Crossley (Homerton), C O'Keeffe (St Edmund's), C Rees (St Catharine's), J Wheeler (St Edmund's), R McGuire (Hughes Hall), S MacLellan (St John's).