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BLUES 0 - 34 CAMBRIDGE CITY
KANTO GAUKUIN UNIVERSITY 46 - 8 BLUES
WASEDA UNIVERSITY 47 - 17 BLUES

With just under ten weeks to go until the annual Varsity Match, and the burden of a two year winning streak to defend, let alone the pride of the university, the pressure is on for Ross Blake, this year’s captain, to perform. In the wake of an eye-opening tour to Japan, and knowing that the massively experienced ex-Australian international Joe Roff is leading the opposition camp, the task ahead must seem incredibly daunting.
Despite a convincing 34-0 win against Cambridge City prior to departing for their tour of Japan, the two results on tour suggest a team far from ready to replicate last year’s varsity success. The Blues lost 46-8 to Kanto Gakuin University and 47-17 to Waseda University. Blake admits, “Following a positive start against Cambridge City, where some of the new guys came in and performed really well, we got completely shot down in Japan.” The cynic might argue that this year’s Blues are in disarray, based solely on the evidence of these two results. However, considering the heat and humidity of Japan and the fact that the Blues faced two sides who had been playing and training together for months rather than days, the results are a little more understandable.

In the manner of a true professional Blake is making no excuses for his side’s heavy defeats. “We got beaten fair and square by a better team who deserved to win. In fact they deserved to win by quite a lot because they were significantly better than we were.” Facing Oxford at Twickenham, in the cold, wind and rain of the British winter, will be a completely different challenge to tackling the Japanese on their home turf.

Last year’s Varsity Match, although not particularly memorable, ended in a 15-6 victory largely thanks to a strong performance from the pack. Once again the season may be based on forward power. This is reflected in the six blues returning to the pack, including John Blaikie and Jon Dawson, who are likely to replicate last year’s devastating performance. However Blake is keen to stress that nobody’s position in the side is guaranteed and is anxious that trying to replicate the forward dominated play of last year may prove an unwise move as Roff is far too experienced not to learn from past mistakes, saying that “with six of the pack returning we’ve got a solid platform, but I’d like to introduce more variety to our game this year.”

For the 2007 season the Blues are having to make do without two of their key players from last year. Seasoned Blue, Johnny Ufton, will be missed at ten and the dynamism of Joe Ansbro, who lit up last year’s Varsity Match and kept Roff continually tied down, won’t be there to wow the crowds come December 6.

Continuity seems to be the watchword in the Blues camp this year. One of the aspects they focussed on in Japan was retaining the ball for at least three phases every time. On the two occasions where this was achieved they came away with a try and a penalty. A more flowing style of play will be greatly welcomed by the many rugby spectators who flock to Twickenham in December and head to Grange Road for the evening matches throughout the term. All too often, University games are accused of being too disjointed and scrappy. Is Blake concerned? “Regularly Varsity games boil down to a war of attrition, and if we have to play the same way to win the game then I’d be happy to do that.” Blake’s focus on Varsity victory is absolute and the seriousness with which he is approaching the task cannot be doubted.

This year’s side boasts a wealth of returning Blues, all with at least some professional or semi-professional experience. however there is also a crop of undergraduate players pushing for places. Chris Lewis, who won a Blue last year, is the pick of the home grown talent, but the likes of Pat Crossley (last year’s u21 captain), Charlie Rees and Andy Wheble all continue to prove that the gap between university rugby and the college game is not as vast as many believe. It is a common misconception that the Blues team is purely made of postgraduates hardened in the professional game. Blake insists that if undergraduates come along with the right attitude and commitment then anything is possible. “If you’re good enough and want it then there are opportunities to step to a higher level.”

With a string of tough matches ahead against the likes of Northampton Saints, Saracens and Leicester Tigers, let alone the annual match against the Steele-Bodger XV (this year rumoured to host 15 internationals) the Blues have a long way to go before the Varsity Match on December 6. The task may seem daunting, but with Blake’s relaxed pragmatism and professional approach you get the sense that the University’s pride come match day is in good hands.

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One to Watch

Chris Lewis

History Undergraduate reading History at St. Catherines
Position Wing or Centre
Experience 2005:U21 Varsity 2006: won his first Blue coming off the bench
Why watch him Strong and powerful, Lewis is a raw young talent with bags of flair. The rough edges in his game will surely be ironed out as he grows in experience and confidence
Ross Blake reckons "He's just getting better and better and better"

George Towers