The Rugby Football Union is concerned that the match, which is likely to attract a 30,000 crowd and a significantly larger television audience, might be used by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts for a high-profile protest following nationwide demonstrations in recent weeks.
Date: 09-12-2010
Kick Off - 2:00 PM (UK TIME)
Oxford have a new coach in Murray Henderson, a New Zealander previously in charge of Portugal, who has had a tough introduction to university rugby. The Dark Blues were dogged by early-season injuries and have lost seven of their nine matches to date, though they did beat Major Stanley’s XV in their University Match warm-up. Each side has named 10 new Blues with Australians Dan and Harry Guinness set to become the first brothers to play for Oxford in the match since 1976. Dan will start at blindside flanker with Harry, a centre, on the bench.
Oxford’s Canadian No 8 Stan McKeen will be the only full international on display though Cambridge flanker Jason Kururangi has international pedigree as his father Robert toured Britain with the 1978 All Blacks. For most the University Match, which remains a throwback to the amateur era, will be the biggest match they will play in.
