MATT Goode says it would have taken more than broken ribs to stop him from playing at Twickenham.

The 33-year-old starts at outside centre tomorrow as Oxfordshire take on Sussex, bidding to win at the national stadium for the first time in three attempts.

Goode was part of the side which lost to Northumberland in 2003 and also played for Warwickshire at Twickenham in 2010.

The Banbury centre was due to miss Oxon’s last pool game against Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire with the injury before they were handed a walkover.

Goode was due to see a physio at employers Northampton Saints, where he manages the club’s Hitz programme, but at training on Tuesday night he was given the all-clear.

He said: “I came through the fitness test pretty well and I’m super excited for Sunday.

“It would have taken more than a couple of sore ribs to stop me playing.”

Chinnor’s Roddy Giles is given the nod at full back, while Oxford Harlequins duo Jack Robinson and Ed Yeats start on the wings.

Clubmates Pete Boulton, Allan Purchase and Adam Neal are in the pack.

Head coach Craig Burrows said: “There was definitely an increased work rate from the players in training.

“This week’s two sessions went really well, so everyone is building up to turn it into a performance at Twickenham.”

TOMORROW’S TEAM

Oxfordshire: Giles (Chinnor), Robinson (Ox Harlequins), Goode (Banbury), Martin (Grove), Yeats (Ox Harlequins), Stoop, E Phillips (both Banbury), Primett (Henley), Sarr (Banbury), Boulton, Purchase, Neal (all Ox Harlequins), Jeffreys (Wallingford), Lane, Hyde (both Henley). Reps: Stock (Chinnor), C Chilvers (Banbury), Bellinger (Grove), J Chilvers (Grove), Burn (Henley), Fairburn (Ox Harlequins), Nicholl (Grove).