Cambridge University coach Tony Rodgers paid tribute to rugby league legend Shaun Edwards after his Light Blues retained the MMC Trophy at Twickenham.
Cambridge and Oxford played out the first Varsity Match draw since 1965 after Light Blues wing Charlie Desmond scored an equalising try seven minutes from time to tie the score 11-11.
But Cambridge went home with the trophy, retaining it on the strength of their 15-13 victory last term.
While Oxford enjoyed most of the possession and territory, Cambridge were indebted to a resilient defensive display.
And that was where Edwards played a critical role, having worked with the Cambridge squad last weekend.
Edwards, the former Wigan and Great Britain league star, is in charge of defence with Zurich Premiership champions Wasps, and his influence on Cambridge was clear.
"Shaun worked with us over the weekend. He is so dynamic, and he certainly made a difference," said Rodgers.
Cambridge would have won the game outright had a contentious Dafydd Lewis drop-goal not been ruled out by English World Cup referee Chris White.
Lewis' second-half strike looked to have scraped over the bar, the television replays later were inconclusive, and neither of White's touch judges were able to assist him.
"It looked as though the drop-goal was over, but the referee was in sole command," added Rodgers. "He was looking to his touch judges, but they didn't react. Our fly-half thought it was over."
Cambridge captain Stewart Eru admitted his team had been forced to dig deep in the second period when Oxford laid siege.
"We were under immense pressure in the second half, and our kicking wasn't great, but all credit to Oxford," Eru said.
"We are disappointed not to win, but we are going back with the trophy, which is what it is about."
Oxford boss Steve Hill claimed his team had played all the rugby, even though their only touchdown came from prop Henry Nwume five minutes before half-time.
"We were prepared to play with a bit of width and a bit of risk," Hill said. "One team came to play today and throw the ball about, and I am not sure what the other came to do, but they defended a lot.
"I would never be implicitly critical of my opponents, but if you look at the game and who played with the ball in hand instead of kicking the ball up and chasing it, then there was a difference."
Oxford fought back from an early 6-0 deficit to move five points ahead courtesy of Nwume's try and a penalty double from their South African full back Ryan O'Mahoney.
The 20-year-old Desmond though, who only broke in to the Cambridge team five weeks ago because of an injury crisis, came up trumps when it really mattered.
"The first emotion is one disappointment - it is hard not to be when we have the momentum going for us, but Cambridge fought back well and you can't be too unhappy with a draw," said Oxford captain John Allen.
"I believe that we played well and our strategy was sound, but you have to give credit to the Cambridge defence, and when their moment came, they seized on it."
Oxford later confirmed fly-half Jon Fennell, who went off injured after just five minutes, was suffering from a torn hip muscle.