OXFORD University captain John Carter revealed he had a sleepless night as he settled on his Varsity Match team.

Carter, who will officially announce his starting XV and eight replacements at Twickenham today (12.30) ahead of next Thursday’s match, said he agonised over his selection right up until Tuesday morning.

“I spent the last couple of weeks thinking hard about,” he said.

“That night, from Monday to Tuesday, was fairly sleepless. It was very difficult.”

Carter did not travel back from Monday night’s match at Esher on the team coach, so he could focus his thoughts.

He said: “It was one of the worst and most difficult days of my captaincy, telling people they are not involved. It was very sad.

“I think it was a mark of how much the players mean to me as captain.”