Rugby: CERN aim to inflict first defeat of Lausanne

“The general consensus among all the coaches at the moment is that CERN are on the way up and if there’s a potential banana skin for Lausanne then it’s this one. We‘re very wary of them,” said Stade Lausanne coach Andy Whitlow.

“We’ve got a few injuries which a concern – but this will be a good test of our depth. We have done a lot of fitness work during the break,” he added.

Whitlow is missing fully back James Mudie suffering from a painful rib cartilage injury and influential skipper Emile Borrer remains out of action with nerve problems in his neck.

For CERN team manager, Beren Evans, it’s “nice to get back into action. We’re facing an unbeaten side but we are one of the only two teams that they didn’t get the bonus try against so far this season; but it will be our toughest test this year. We’ll go all out to snatch a surprise victory.”

In direct contrast to Whitlow, Evans says several key players have returned from the physio’s table and are expected to strengthen a team that looks ready to do battle.

On Sunday, Geneva PLO are in Zurich to lock horns with Grasshoppers’ skipper Josh Bjornson, now fully recovered from a knee injury, which kept him on the sidelines for much of the season. “It’s a big one – a pivotal game for us,” he predicted.

“We’re keen on Geneva and we smell blood as well,” he added – Geneva were unexpectedly pick-pocketed by Bern, of all teams, in October and lost a war of attrition against Hermance last weekend.

“We’re ready to pounce and regardless of how well or poorly they are doing, we’re keen to go out and do a number on them,” Bjornson challenged before reporting that head coach Junaid Azmuth had departed the Zurich set up in frustration with, it’s fair to say, a squad that has yet to really gel this season.

James Kerr comes in with the job of turning things around. “The frustration has been around our performances more than anything. People were happy with the coach we had before, but James is doing a great job,” Bjornson said.

Meantime, Geneva coach Olivier Achaintre isn’t giving an inch, despite the fact that his ability to do a great job is still very much in question, as emphasized by recent performances which surely wouldn't have been allowed to happen the previouis season when he wasn't in charge. “Although they’re [Zurich] a very solid team at their home ground, we’re prepared to go there and get the maximum,” he told Swisster.

Hermance versus Nyon, frequently in the past the league’s most hotly contested derby, could well result in a trouncing for the visitors, though Hermance technical director, Carter Croft is eyeing his former employers with some caution.

“Looking at the general league results this season, some have been surprising and you can’t take any game for granted. If Nyon have been doing badly recently, then they’re going to want to win this game badly as well,” he said.

“There are things that we’re not doing well at the moment,” he added. “If we can start finishing off those chances that we’re creating, I’ll be much a happier.”

Nyon certainly won’t be. What began as a “rebuilding” season has – resultwise at least – rapidly turned into a demoralising string of defeats and a place at the bottom of the table. Nonetheless, club president Alain Winterhalter remains upbeat about Saturday’s clash.

“We’re going there full of confidence, at least to deliver a good match and, depending on the team composition, we will have our chances. Hermance have had their problems as well don’t forget, and are not as almighty as their run of results suggests,” he told Swisster.

Hermance are currently six points behind Lausanne in second place after seven games apiece.

In Central Switzerland, Bern will be hoping to repeat their astonishing victory against Swiss champs Geneva last month when they go to Yverdon on Saturday.