2019 Captain Stephen Leonard has named his squad
CURUFC Men’s Captain Stephen Leonard has named his Varsity Match side for the 12th December 2019, selecting virtually the same matchday 23 that won the Steele Bodger match 34-19 at Grange Road last week. There are eight former Blues in the starting XV and three more on the bench as Cambridge attempt to win back the Rhino Trophy after falling to a 38-16 defeat last December.
The Light Blue squad is under no illusions as to the significance of the challenge facing them this year, with Oxford Captain Ed David naming 12 returning Blues in his starting XV. Indeed, the only players who will be starting their first Varsity Match for the Dark Blue side are full back Dan Stoller, ex-Northampton Saints and Richmond centre Nick Greehalgh, and loose head prop Euan Friend.
However, Leonard has been able to draw on the experience of former internationals James Horwill and Flip van der Merwe, who have been selected to pack down together in the second row. PhD student Leonard, who will win his third Blue, claims to feel “quietly confident” about the big day and is full of praise for the impact and influence his two international stars have brought to the squad.
“A lot of it is just experience of being in big occasions. In the changing room before matches they just tell us to do what we’ve always done, don’t worry about the crowd and just treat it as another game,” said Leonard.
“It is the small chat that helps us. You see them on the pitch doing what they did for a decade or so for their clubs and countries.
“Every year we and the other place pick up a superstar or two and a lot gets pinned on them in terms of hopes and expectations. In reality, the best thing they can do is raise the standard in training in the build-up to the big day.
“Then the dream is they have a solid match, they don’t have to do anything ground-breaking, but the guys around them also do their jobs. It’s pretty straightforward, rather than hoping we’ve got two internationals, we’ll give them the ball every phase and see if they can win it for us.”
15. Joey Gatus * (Queen Elizabeth GS, Wakefield & Corpus Christi)
14. Tom Lovelace (Hurstpierpoint College & Hughes Hall)
13. Rory Triniman * (Canford School & Hughes Hall)
12. Charlie Watson (The King’s School, Canterbury & Selwyn)
11. Fergus Jemphrey (Sullivan Upper School & Homerton)
10. Mike Phillips * (Bedford Modern School & Emmanuel)
9. Chris Bell *(St Paul’s School & Emmanuel)
1. Charlie MacCallum *(Magdalen Collge School & Downing)
2. Miles Huppatz *(Sir Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School & Downing)
3. Ed Harborne (Lawrence Sheriff School & Clare)
4. James Horwill (Brisbane Boys College & Queens’)
5. Flip Van Der Merwe (Grey College & Queens’)
6. Tom Walton (Nottingham HS & St John’s)
7. Sean McMahon * (Clongowes Wood College & Gonville & Caius)
8. Stephen Leonard * (Llandovery College & Emmanuel, captain)
Replacements
16. Sam Schusman * (Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School & Magdalene)
17. Daniel Collins (Maria Immaculata Community College, Dunmanway & Fitzwilliam)
18. George Cook (Brighton College & Robinson)
19. Rowan Beckett * (Bradford GS & Peterhouse)
20. Oliver Smart * (Merchant Taylors’ School & Downing)
21. Archie Smeaton (Hymers College & Queens’)
22. Al Gliksten (Harrow School & Robinson)
23. Dougal Russell (Havant & South Downs College & St John’s)
* Denotes Blue
Referee: JP Doyle (RFU)