Oxford University captain John Carter says they must improve on their final warm-up performance against Esher if they are to have any hope of Varsity Match hat-trick.
The Dark Blues won 31-10 at Esherin what was only their second victory of the campaign, which culminates against Cambridge University at Twickenham.
“It wasn’t our best performance by any imagination,” said Carter.
“Even though we won by that scoreline, there were a lot of things that we have to improve on.”
Carter added: “Some of our losses have been far more beneficial to us as a team.
“What I said to the players is that there are always two victories in a game.
“There is the one on the scoreboard and the other is how you come off feeling as a team.
“Hopefully if you get the second right, the scoreline follows anyway.
“We have had that feeling in several games and that is the most important thing.”
Meanwhile, Cambridge captain, flanker Rob Malaney, included four Blues in his starting XV, plus four on the bench.
Former Magdalen College School, Oxford pupil Nick Marshall is a replacement prop.
Cambridge University: Stephen, Murdoch, Holmes, Bain, Smith, Abraham, Tullie, Briggs*, Mallaband, Brown*, Brakeley, Annett*, Malaney*, Kelly, Steele. Reps: Cowan, Marshall, Sanders*, Mather, Wolfe*, Cook*, Cherezov*. * Old Blues
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