Oxford University's hopes of making it four Varsity Match victories in a row were boosted yesterday when skipper Fraser Gemmell named a full-strength side to face Cambridge at Twickenham next Tuesday.
Andrew WillettAndrew Willett, Oxford's play-making centre, has recovered from a pulled thigh muscle and had no reaction following his 20-minute outing at Loughborough on Saturday.
Stuart Douglas, who was playing for Maidenhead Colts two years ago, continued his remarkable rise by being selected on the wing following his recovery from a hamstring strain.
With their Australian forwards, No 8 Dave Lubans and hooker Dave Griffiths, shrugging off injuries, Oxford have a clean bill of health for what could be a historic win.
This is the 121st match in the traditional series, and only twice in that time have the Dark Blues secured four successive wins - from 1881-84 and 1948-51, the era of the legendary South Africans Murray Hofmeyr and Clive Van Ryneveld.
There are no such superstars in this year's encounter, but Oxford's director of rugby, Steve Hill, is confident they can achieve something not done for more than 50 years.
"Three wins in the last three weeks have given us a lot of confidence," he said. "I think we have a strong squad, with a talented set of backs, and that if we play to our potential, we will win."
Hill is not taking the Light Blues lightly. He said: "They have a strong front five and two dangerous centres, but we think we know how they are going to play and have planned accordingly."
Both sides will be led by New Zealand flankers, following the news that Cambridge's captain Duncan Blaikie has recovered from a hamstring strain.
Gemmell, one of seven Blues in the Oxford side, said: "We are very hopeful of making it four in a row, although we are aware of how good Cambridge are."
Oxford: T Barlow, W Rubie, J Allen, A Willett, S Douglas, M Honeyben, D Taberner, K Tkachuk, D Griffiths, H Nwume, A Russell, C Edwards, F Gemmell (capt), B Durham, D Lubans. Reps: D Hughes, O Julyan, R Sugden, R Woods, G Barr, J Fennell, K Dixon.
Cambridge: A Newmarch, S Kingsbury, S Frost, J Wright, A Abiola, O Edwards, B Dormer, R Bosch, C Collins, J Reilly, G Webster, M Purdy, O Scrimgeour, D Blaikie (capt), S Eru. OXFORD BOOST: Talented centre Andrew Willett has recovered from injury and will face Cambridge
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