While Jimmy Richards and his team have been performing extremely well against whatever opposition they are pitted against, Oxford have been struggling against a similar quality of opposition.

Having won only one game so far this season and losing six, the Oxford rugby team seems to be struggling in the early season. With one month to go until the Varsity fixture at Twickenham, captain Nick Haydon will be extremely concerned at his side’s form.

Indeed, it is not as though Oxford have been playing opposition of a superior quality to Cambridge. While Cambridge performed superbly against a very strong Northampton side, including England international Shane Geraghty, and only lost by 12 points, Oxford struggled to match the power and pace of London Wasps when they visted Iffley Road.

Succumbing to a professional outfit by 24 points is not necessarily indicative of a poor side, but it is the manner of the defeat which will disappoint the Oxford management. Porous defence and weak tackling is something that will worry Oxford and please Cambridge.

Indeed, while Cambridge dominated American opposition on their pre-season tour – returning undefeated – Oxford lost both their games to RC Slava in Moscow and Kazan State Agrarian University.

If current trends continue, Cambridge will be extremely confident of back-to-back Varsity victories come early December.