Varsity Match: Oxford and Cambridge meet for the 133rd time

Oxford are chasing a fifth successive victory in Thursday’s Varsity Match against Cambridge at Twickenham.

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The Dark Blues have selected a strong side, including England U20 Junior World Cup winner Gus Jones, while prop Lewis Anderson is chasing a record-breaking fifth win in as many appearances.

“I've thought more about the team-level statistics, that Cambridge have won five in a row on three occasions while Oxford never have,” said Anderson.

“I'm excited about my own record, it's a great opportunity. In the end though, no one player makes that much difference. It means more that a club, collectively, is able to consistently build a winning team.” 

Cambridge, who have won the Varsity Match just once in the last six years, have named a side that includes 10 of last year’s starting line-up. All bar one of them, flanker Richard Bartholomew, have never tasted victory against Oxford.

Harry Peck, who starts at scrum-half for the Light Blues, is confident they can end their losing streak on Thursday afternoon.

“This is an incredibly driven group of players who have come together really well this term,” he said.

“Our results have been encouraging, parts of our performances have been excellent and the task now is to put all the best bits together and make them into a whole.”

Cambridge: 15 Sam Allen, 14 Ilia Cherezov, 13 Toby May, 12 Fraser Gillies, 11 George Smith, 10 Don Stevens, 9 Henry Peck; 1 Will Briggs, 2 Tom Pascoe, 3 Jacob Poulton, 4 Jack Baker, 5 Rob Hall, 6 Richard Bartholomew, 7 Hugo Kelly, 8 Sam Farmer.

Replacements: 16 Max Montgomery, 17 Oliver Exton, 18 Frank Sanders, 19 Charlie O’Sullivan, 20 Daniel Dass, 21 Seb Tullie, 22 John Wylde, 23 Andy Rees.

Oxford: 15 Jacob Taylor (c), 14 Ed Doe, 13 Matt Janney, 12 Alexander Macdonald, 11 Henry Lamont, 10 George Cullen, 9 Sam Egerton; 1 Lewis Anderson, 2 Nick Gardner, 3 Ian Williams, 4 Fergus Taylor, 5 Tom Reeson-Price, 6 Fraser Heathcote, 7 Gus Jones, 8 George Messum.

Replacements: 16 James Wisson, 17 James Scaife, 18 Guy Western, 19 Graeme MacGilchrist, 20 Will Thomas, 21 Henry de Berker, 22 Henry Hughes, 23 Basil Strang.

Watch Cambridge v Oxford live on Sky Sports 1 on Thursday from 2pm