VARSITY MATCH PREVIEW

CAMBRIDGE University have had to make a late change at hooker after Nigel Conroy was ruled to be ineligible.

Mark Murdoch will now wear their No 2 shirt because Conroy’s course does not fulfil the Blues’ Committee’s Varsity Match requirements.

Murdoch moves up from the bench, with Rupert Cowan replacing him.

Cambridge reserve prop Frank Sanders has broken a foot, but they have yet to name his replacement.

Cambridge captain Matt Guinness-King, a former Canadian international, said: “Nigel’s such a positive guy and he’s taken it well.

“The match means as much to him as anyone else and he put a lot of his life on hold to get ready for the match.

“He’s going to be the team manager on the day and he’s still training with us.”

Cambridge scrum half Don Blake is the brother of Ross Blake, who is a touch judge today alongside former Dark Blues skipper Joe Roff.

Meanwhile, Oxford captain John Carter said his squad have made great strides.

No 8 Carter, who has named seven Blues in his pack, has seen Oxford achieve very mixed results this term.

The students have won four and lost six of their ten matches, with one victory coming against Henley Hawks 2nd.

But Carter stressed: “In terms of our season, I am very happy with how it has gone.

“The last game against Esher was a bit disappointing, but some of the results have been pretty good.

“However, it has not really been about results. It has got to be about preparation and player development.

“I have seen so many individuals develop beyond what I thought they could.”

He added: “You have got to develop with these coaches, and if you have not been taking advantage of them, you would already have fallen by the wayside.”