Oxford head coach Sean Bowden is delighted with the way his oarsmen have responded to the late changes he’s made to his crew this week.

Admitting the late switch in seat order, made just five days before Saturday’s 153rd Boat Race, sponsored by Xchanging, was something of a risk, Bowden said: “The thing with making changes is if they don’t work straight away then you know you are barking up the wrong tree.

“But the new line-up worked immediately and the guys have responded superbly. We’ve always gone for more or less the strongest guys, but it’s taken a bit of time to get the crew order right.”

Bowden made the changes yesterday (Monday), switching Oxford President Robin Ejsmond-Frey from seat five to bow, with Michal Plotkowiak moving from bow to seat three and Andrew Wright from three to five.

However, despite the new set-up, the experienced coach knows his crew, containing only one returning Blue to Oxford’s five, is up against it this year.

“We’re aware that each year there’s always a chance of winning this race,” he said. “Maybe this year there is less chance than in previous years.

“For some of our guys this is a big step-up in experience and they are against some rowers of very high calibre, including one Olympic and two world champions.

“But it’s been a good year,” he added. “The thing about a less experienced crew is that people have an opportunity to progress and as a coach that gives me an opportunity to motivate people.”

As well as being happy with his own changes Bowden admitted he is secretly pleased that Cambridge have made a late change to their cox, bringing in Rebecca Dowbiggin to replace Russell Glenn at the helm of the light Blues.

“I assume they’ve done it because they think it improves their boat,” he said. “But, yes, I am happy that she’s coxing their crew.”

Similarly, he is not worried that his eight was found to be an average of 4.3kg per man lighter than their opponents at today’s weigh-in.

“Weight can be an advantage,” said Bowden. “If the big guys are good rowers then it can help. But we knew we were going to be in this position so it is nothing unexpected.

“We are definitely improving at the right time. And in this race, if it takes until the last minute to get it right, then so be it.”