Oxford University captain John Carter led from the front as his team claimed their biggest Varsity match victory over Cambridge since 1988, winning 28-10 at Twickenham last month. After the game all the talk was of that shiner.
The 2011 version of the Varsity match had everything you’d expect from such an encounter. The old school tradition was firmly in place as the touch judges were former captains, including a certain Joe Roff on one side. Then there was the raw physicality that we’ve come to expect, as the passion for the occasion spilt over more than once.
Sebastian Chabal lookalike Carter, a former professional in the Guinness Premiership with Sale and Leicester, got involved in an off the ball scuffle with Australian Dave Allen, the latter having played with Ulster. Shortly after Carter makes a pass and play carries on, you can see the two get in a tangle. As the chip ahead takes place from the Cambridge counter-attack, Allen and Carter can be seen wrestling on the floor.
What followed was a punch from Allen as he pinned down the Oxford skipper. After being stitched up Carter returned with an almighty shiner and battled all the way to the end, leading his side to a well-deserved victory. Man of the Match should have perhaps gone his way for the heroic effort, but it wasn’t to be and excellent lock Karl Outen claimed that honour.
It was Oxford’s second successive win in the Nomura Varsity Match and Carter clearly wasn’t too bothered by the battle scars afterwards, hailing his young side’s performance as he brushed off the incident, then no doubt joined Allen for a few beers later that evening.
Sat 21 Jan 2012 | 08:10
John Carter's shiner from Dave Allen punch - Oxford vs Cambridge 2011
11 Comments
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browner4:58 PM 27/03/2013
the TJ stays on the scuffle 15m away from him and doesn't follow the ball.
Q? was Camb8 Red Carded for the punch?
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jabbawebb1:34 PM 28/05/2012
Was a good game this year.
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jabbawebb1:34 PM 28/05/2012
Was a good game this year.
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rugbydump7:24 PM 09/04/2012
There seems to be no record of your comment (with that username) so we have no idea what you're referring to. If you're having any technical issues, please get in touch via the contact page and we'll try sort it out. Thanks
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rugbydump11:40 AM 22/01/2012
He was penalised for it, it's just not included in the clip.
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welshosprey2:26 AM 22/01/2012
Requiem for a dream by clint mansell
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSY4Yi2ypno -
guy6:16 PM 21/01/2012
Bring back the biff! Eeehhhhmmm....beard!
I love the way rugby players over the past few years are re-introducing that retro facial hairstyle. We had Chabal, Kleeburger, Whitelock, Straus and some tiny French wingers. Hope it catches on further... -
pretzel4:05 PM 21/01/2012
Looks like when he got up after the tackle he put his studs into the tackler, otherwise I really can't see why it would ever get to a scrap.
Very Chabalesque look... -
welshosprey3:21 PM 21/01/2012
Seems like a bit of a dick the way he pushed that guy from behind
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2:05 PM 21/01/2012
Highlights from the game please, also enjoy the varsity match.
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patedelievre9:59 AM 21/01/2012
I am sooooooooo JEALOUS of how sport, especially rugby, is treated in England. Here in France, the equivalent of an Oxford-Cambridge match would probably be Assas-La Sorbonne, and you'd be so disappointed by the little care given by universities to sports...
That is really great, chapeau bas les rosbifs!