In just under a fortnight, 23 men will have a shot at redemption. The price of failure: the unthinkable. No team has ever lost six matches in a row at Twickenham in a fixture stretching back to 1872 (played at the Home of Rugby since 1921). If that pressure is not enough, the Light Blues must also respond to last year’s 43-6 drubbing, the heaviest defeat ever inflicted in this famous fixture.

Having said all that, the Light Blues will be significantly stronger in their quest to avoid unwanted history. Skipper Don Stevens is optimistic of victory at Twickenham, with his young charges starting to play some consistently promising rugby at Grange Road in recent weeks.

Add to that a certain Welshman and Cambridge really will be a force to be reckoned with. Jamie Roberts, with 74 Welsh caps and a further three for the British and Irish Lions, will add dynamism, power and experience to the Blues midfield, with a strong partnership developing already with his fellow centre Mike Phillips, no relation to Roberts’ illustrious Welsh teammate.

The men’s side, therefore, have every reason to be confident heading into this year’s Twickenham showpiece.

10th December is also, however, an overdue chance for the women’s side to show off their talent. After much pressure, the ladies’ fixture has been moved to Twickenham, and will be played on the morning of the men’s game.

Nikki Weckman’s Blues, unlike the men, won last year’s match and will be looking to make it two on the bounce this year. Speaking of the move to Twickenham, Weckman told Varsity: “It is a really good move and important for women’s sport in general, putting the female game on the radar and, more importantly, showcasing the highest level of the women’s game for potential young players watching in the stands or at home.”

Whether they are running out at Twickenham for the first time or the last time, each player, male or female, will hope to ascend the steps to the Royal Box to lift the trophy for Cambridge.

Stats and Facts

5: Oxford’s current run of consecutive victories equals the record for the Varsity Match. Cambridge won five-in-a-row between 1972 and 1977, 1980-1984 and 1994-1998.

2009: The last time a player with over 60 international caps appeared in the fixture – Light Blues’ Daniel Vickerman.

134: Number of times the two men’s sides have met for this match.
1: The very first time the women’s match has been moved to Twickenham Stadium.

30.2: The average number of points conceded by Cambridge’s men over the past five Varsity matches.

56,000: The difference in attendance between that expected on 10th December and Jamie Roberts’ last Twickenham appearance: Wales v South Africa at the World Cup.

9: The number of points separating Oxford and Cambridge in the BUCS Premier South this season. The Dark Blues have three wins to just one for Cambridge.

14: The number of draws between the men’s teams in Varsity Match history.

3,300: The shortest distance (in miles) between London and the country of birth of either Light Blues’ captain.

3: Number of Varsity reporters and photographers in attendance for live coverage of this year’s match.

Follow the match:
Live blog on varsity.co.uk
or, on Twitter: @VarsityUK