There will be no excuses if Oxford fail to last the course in the Varsity Match as wing Tom Tombleson has been their conditioning coach since the summer.

Tombleson, who is winning his third Blue, devised programmes for every player to reach their required fitness levels.

He said: "The guys have responded really well.

"There was no room for people not to do it because they would be getting exposed.

"We have had a lot of support to bring the conditioning work into our training. Credit to the staff for allowing us to do that.

"It is something we have always asked for in the past, but it is has been passed up for tactical stuff."

Tombleson hopes his work pays off, and the signs have been good with Oxford finishing strongly in most of their warm-up games.

His programmes were designed for the players to peak a month before the match and maintain fitness from there.

"If they peaked too late they wouldn't have those weeks of playing well to draw confidence from," said Tombleson.

"I don't think anyone enjoys it, but they say it has made a difference.

"We are just tapering now. The money has been put in and we're just cashing the cheques."

Tombleson's fellow wing Jonan Boto wins his fourth Blue today and with Auckland NPC player Chris Mahony at full back, Oxford are not lacking experience in their back three.

"It can only be a good thing," said Tombleson.

"Some of us have played together for two or three years.

"We know what lines we are going to run in certain situations."

He added: "I think we are stronger and more balanced this year.

"I have never known competition like this.

"It has raised people to levels they didn't know were possible."