Daniel Dass is fit to return to lead Cambridge University in their biggest test of the season to date when they host Northampton Wanderers at Grange Road tonight (7.30pm).
It will be an acid test for the Light Blues a week on from their 50-0 defeat to Trinity College, Dublin, without their skipper. On the same night, Northampton ran in eight tries in a 50-0 win over Oxford University at Iffley Road.
Comparisons between the strengths of the two Varsity teams will undoubtedly be made after the result and Dass’ team will have to keep a close eye on Wanderers wing Tom Collins, who helped himself to a hat-trick against the Dark Blues.
The visitors have made only one change to the back division that played at Oxford, introducing Ahsee Tuala at full back in place of George Furbank. That makes three internationals behind the scrum as the Samoan cap joins Tongan centre Nafi Tuitavake and Puma Juan Pablo Estelles.
There are four survivors up front – Gareth Denman, Alex Moon, Lewis Ludlam and Devante Onojaife – and the Light Blues front row will be tested by the addition of Fijian World Cup prop Campese Ma’afu. Saints regular Christian Day is in the second row for his first action of the season, while Jamie Elliott is on the bench after also recovering from injury.
In 2008, a Northampton side featuring Carlos Spencer, Soane Tonga’uiha and Callum Clark escaped with a 29-21 win, while the 2010 encounter saw the visitors arrive with England outside half Shane Geraghty and Scotland and British & Irish Lions prop Euan Murray.
The bar and student “Tin Bin” will be open before, during and after the match, while the cafe will be serving hot food throughout the evening.
Cambridge University: Charlie Ambesbury; Henry King, Rory Triniman, Michael Phillips*, Simon Davies*; Fraser Gillies*, Seb Tullie*; William Briggs*, Fionn Dillon Kelly, Jonny Dixon, Andrew Hunter, Tim Bond, Richard Bartholomew*, Tom Stanley, Daniel Dass* (captain)
Reps: Simon Hugkulstone, William Dean, Demitri Moros, Lola Erogbogbo*, Henry Rose, Angus Lockhart, Chris Bell, Lare Erogbogbo, Ed Clough, George Griffiths
Northampton Wanderers: Ahsee Tuala; Howard Packman; Nafi Tuitavake, Juan Pablo Estelles, Tom Collins; Sam Olver, Tom Kessell; Campese Ma’afu, Charlie Clare, Gareth Denman, Alex Moon, Christian Day, Jordan Onojaife, Lewis Ludlam, Devante Onojaife
Reps: Matt Beesley, Alex Rayment, Ehren Painter, Sion Bennett, Toby Trinder, Alex Mitchell, James Grayson, Jamie Elliott, George Furbank
