OXFORD University head coach James Wade admitted his players were “shell-shocked” by their 74-10 defeat to Northampton Academy.

But he has challenged them to show they have learnt lessons from the Iffley Road humbling.

The Dark Blues rested many of their best players for the match in which they were due to face Nottingham.

But when Nottingham pulled out, they were outgunned by a team of youngsters desperate to make their mark with Premiership champions Northampton.

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“We were just a bit shell-shocked,” said Wade. “It was a big step-up for some of the players.

“We put some of our more experienced players in the gym to train and gave others a chance.

“It was a fixture that was taken at the last minute, so we weren’t expecting that sort of level.

“We play them again in five weeks and how much we learn in that period is going to be key to whether we succeed at Twickenham.”

Wade said Oxford had a lot to reflect on after the match, but merely talking was not enough.

“It is IF the players, learn from it, that’s they key,” he said.

“The players have got to pick it up. In the next five to six weeks, we’ll know if they have.

“We can talk about it, but they need to show that they can do it.

“They have seen what they have got to do to improve.

“We will take things from it as well as the negatives, of which there were a lot, but we have to move on.”

The Dark Blues trailed 55-0 at the break, but fared much better in the second half, with flanker Gus Jones scoring two tries.

Wade said: “To have that many points put on you, you have got issues, but the way the players reacted in the second half showed a lot of character.

“A lot of players could have folded. It could have been a lot, lot worse.

“We fronted up, which was key. To win a Varsity Match, you have got to front up. It’s not just about skill level.

“They both proved in the last 40 minutes that they are prepared to do that.”

Oxford host Wasps on Monday night, a tough fixture that had always been part of their Varsity Match build-up.

“I think the Wasps game will hopefully have a different approach for the players,” said Wade.

“We were expecting that game.”

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