Bad weather expected in Boat Race

By Martin Gough

Presidents Nick Brodie and Dan O'Shaughnessy go head-to-head

154th University Boat Race
Oxford v Cambridge
Date: Saturday, 29 March
Start: 1715 GMT
Venue: River Thames - Putney to Mortlake
BBC Coverage: Updates on BBC Radio 5 Live

Oxford and Cambridge are braced for rough conditions in the 154th Boat Race, with Oxford considered the favourites to win on the River Thames.

Gusts of up to 45 mph are expected, which will mean rough water through the second half of the course.

"That's clearly going to have an impact on the race," said Oxford coach Sean Bowden of the weather forecast.

"The crew that is able to deal not just with the rough water but with the headwind and conditions [will win]."

Bookmakers' odds of a sinking have shortened rapidly in the days leading up to the race, although it is 30 years since Cambridge were the last crew to sink mid-race.

We're about where we would like to be on the final climb to the peak Sean Bowden Oxford coach

Cambridge coach Duncan Holland's attempt for victory in his debut race in 2006 was ruined by his crew's poor response to rough conditions.

But the light blue boat is fitted with three water pumps this year and the crew have been well briefed.

Holland explained: "We have a playbook - tactics, situations, scenarios.

"What if the water at St Paul's [just before Chiswick] is bad? What if it's blowing a nor'wester and the course is unrowable at a certain point?"

Cambridge suffered a major blow on Wednesday when stroke Shane O'Mara was ruled out on medical grounds, forcing them to move Ryan Monaghan from the reserve crew into the crucial seat.

But Oxford's Bowden said: "If we lost a guy we'd still believe that we could go and win the race.

"So why should we think that Cambridge will stop believing they can win?"

606: DEBATE I'll go for an Oxford win; I just don't feel as confident as I thought I would be BBC Sport's Martin Gough

Oxford lost last year's race between Putney and Mortlake by a length and a quarter.

They were made favourites for this year's event after Tuesday's weigh-in saw them ranked the second-heaviest crew ever, although their 12lb-per-man advantage has been reduced to 10lb after Monaghan's arrival.

The dark blues will still hope that is enough, especially with the strong headwind after the halfway point, which should favour the heavier crew.

None of their rowers have competed in the race before but they have more international experience, including American Mike Wherley who, at 36, is five years older than any oarsman in the event before.

The great thing about this crew is the communication within it Duncan Holland Cambridge coach

Cox Nick Brodie returns for a second year, looking to gain revenge over his opposite number, Rebecca Dowbiggin, who is aiming to be the first woman to cox Cambridge to back-to-back wins.

Bowden, who has coached Oxford to victory in five of the last eight races, added: "The programme has been working well.

"We've got a routine that we've worked through over the last fortnight that's worked very well over the last few years.

"We're about where we would like to be on the final climb to the peak."

Cambridge, who traditionally favour greater technical style over Oxford's brawn, will aim to make the most of their start, which looked cleaner than their rivals in training.

They had just five training sessions with their new-look line-up, after Monaghan joined the crew.

But Holland was upbeat in the lead-up to the race, saying: "We've had a few sessions now with Ryan in. We've moved on and Ryan is fitting in well.

"The great thing about this crew is the communication within it. They're working with Ryan, talking backwards and forwards about what we're trying to achieve."

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Crews:

Cambridge: Colin Scott 13st 8lbs, Tim Perkins 15st, Henry Pelly 13st 13lbs, Tobias Garnett 14st 10lbs, Peter Marsland 16st, Tom Ramsley 15st 11lbs, Tom Edwards 13st 11lbs, Ryan Monaghan 15st 3lb; cox - Rebecca Dowbiggin 7st 9lbs.

Oxford: Jan Herzog 14st 3lbs, Toby Medaris 16st 2lbs, Ben Smith 15st 5lbs, Aaron Marcovy 16st 1lb, Michael Wherley 15st 8lbs, Oliver Moore 15st 13lbs, Charles Cole 15st 1lb, William England 15st 4lbs; cox - Nicholas Brodie 8st 5lbs.