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 Nomura Varsity Match.

Both sides have a tough act to follow after last year’s feast when a 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 fly-half Ross Broadfoot and ex-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.”

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

Teams for the Nomura Varsity Match, Twickenham, today, 2pm.

Oxford University: C Mahony; W Browne, A Cheeseman. J Allfrey, T Catling; R Swanson, N Haydon; R LuttoN, D Rosen (capt), O Tomaszczyk, I Kench, N van Zyl, J Carter, S McKeen, C Davies.

Replacements: D Rogers, W Johnson, K Outen, M Tosa, W Klopper, R James, S Morris, G Oliver.

Cambridge University: J Richards; J Greenwood, F Shepherd, F Burdon, D Riley; R Broadfoot, D Rowe; N Conlon, P Crossley, T Harris, W Jones, D Vickerman (capt), E White, J Wheeler, B Maidment.

Replacements: J Gilbert, A Daniel, P Anuvatnujotikul, H Henderson, J Hood, S Reid, W Balfour, A Cheetham.