Roff adds World Cup-winning class to Varsity

Joe Roff is a rarity, not because he is a rugby player up at Oxford for academic rather than sporting reasons - although that is close to a first in the modern era.

Nor does he stand out as being a hugely talented and lethal finisher - although of course he is.

No, the reason Roff is a rarity is because he is an Australian who has never surfed. He was not the most popular Wallaby when he told his team-mates at the end of one Northern Hemisphere tour that he would be going to play for Biarritz.

"The other guys thought it was a tragedy that I should go to Biarritz and not them.

"But I'm not a surfy. I'm from Canberra and I have never surfed. I'm possibly the only Australian who doesn't surf." But he is an Aussie who plays rugby and today World Cup-winner Roff, now 31, will trot on to the Twickenham turf for the 125th Varsity Match sporting the Dark Blue jersey of Oxford University.

"It will be very special. I've been to see the Varsity match a few times. I used to hang around after the Autumn international. It has always been a game that had a magic about it. Whenever I've been I've always felt there was something special about it."

What with the rugby and his two-year degree course in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, life is hectic for Roff. "I find it very difficult to study, train and play," he said. He is also finding it difficult to work out what the will do when he finishes his degree.

"Like any student I don't know what I want to do with my life after I graduate. That is fine for 20- or 21-year-olds, not to know what they want to do, but I am 31 and I still don't know what I want to do. I feel the degree will give me the direction I need."

He was a wickedly quick and competitive winger in his 10-year career and an outstanding finisher, a man who knew how to use his 6ft 3in, near-16 stone frame.

And although he reckons he has changed somewhat, he will still be able to draw on the experience of 86 Wallaby caps and 33 tries. "I am not quite as sharp as I used to be," he said.

Right now he is having a bit of a lean time on the scoring front, but the chances are that Twickenham will witness his return to form as he helps the Dark Blues gain revenge for last year's comprehensive defeat.

Oxford University: C Mahony (Wolfson); J Boto (University), J Roff (Harris Manchester), J O'Connor (Kellogg), T Tombleson (Wolfson); C McMahon (Linacre), K Brennan (Linacre, capt); O Tomaszczyk (Brasenose), W Cowie (Keble), R Matthews (Wadham), J Chance (Kellogg), D Alexander (Templeton), D Abbott (Linacre), D Palm (St Cross), J Jones (St Anne's). Replacements: D Rosen (Worcester), M McGillion (Greyfriars), R Graham (New), M Du Toit (Pembroke), P Jenkins (Keble), J Bucknall (Kellogg), T Catling (Pembroke).

Cambridge University: H Murray (St Edmund's); D Tibbott (Sidney Sussex), J Ansbro (Robinson), S Thomas (Trinity), D Akinluyi (Christs); J Ufton (St Edmund's), R Blake (Hughes Hall); R Schwikkard (Hughes Hall), J Clark (St Edmund's), J Dawson (St Edmund's), J Blaikie (Hughes Hall, capt), M Harfoot (St Catharine's), N Johnson (Pembroke), D O'Brien (Hughes Hall), E Andrew (St John's). Replacements (from): T Woolsey (Queens), A Fitzpatrick (Gonville and Caius), T Boynton (Hughes Hall), R Bartholomew (Jesus), T Malaney (St Edmund's), R Evans (Hughes Hal), C Lewis (St Catharine's), D Stewart (Hughes Hall).

Referee: D Rose (RFU).