Former England international and Oxford Blue Simon Halliday is urging today's players to produce a good spectacle.

And Halliday, who is a managing director with sponsors Lehman Brothers, says the universities cannot be guaranteed the Twickenham stage for ever if they don't.

Halliday (pictured) accepts nerves will always play a part in the 'top amateur game left', but hopes players can look to the bigger picture.

He said: "If we go back in time, the occasion was massive for all the players involved. Not much has changed.

"Even the best players have found it tough, such as Joe Roff last year.

"He is one of the best players Australia have ever produced.

"However our ambition is to get the crowd up so we need to appeal to the school pupil and casual watcher.

"We've created a time Thursday at 4pm that should work and the bars will be open after the match.

"We need to recognise the importance of giving the full experience to everyone.

"When players come off the field, they should be saying 'I played to the best of my ability'.

"If we can get to that point, we should have a good game."

With events such as the cricket Varsity Match no longer being played at Lord's, Halliday said there was a danger the rugby equivalent might leave Twickenham.

"There's a lot of tough choices being made in rugby," he said.

"You can't take anything for granted, that's not to say there's any plans.

"But if we make a game that people want to watch, the game will stay at Twickenham."

Halliday added: "I can tell you for first timers this will be one of if not the best day of your sporting life so far."