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Johannesburg - While they bagged a comfortable 42-12 victory, Lions coach Johan Ackermann believes a disappointing second-half performance against Western Province undid the ground work laid by his side during the opening stanza.
First-half tries by Ruan Combrinck and Stokkies Hanekom, who each scored a brace, sent the hosts into the break with a 28-5 lead in the Lions Challenge encounter at Ellis Park on Friday night. However, handling errors and some sloppy defence allowed Province back into the contest.
"I think we started well, but then we lost track," Ackermann said.
"We started to make individual mistakes and we couldn't hold onto the ball.
"Our discipline let us down and it was actually a disappointing second half.
"Our defence wasn't as good as we needed it to be, but if you're going to give penalties away consistently, you're going to struggle."
The Lions stormed to a 28-0 lead inside half an hour, before Joshua Katzen restored some confidence in the visiting team's ranks.
Ackermann admitted the scoreline may have been somewhat complimentary toward the hosts.
"We couldn't say it was bad because there was some individual brilliance. We looked quite energised and we looked good in attack," he said.
"The Province team is a young side but full of talent, and they've tested us, and that is the kind of game we need. But if we look at ourselves, we weren't good."
With games few and far between for the Lions - who continue their preparations for the Vodacom Super Rugby promotion/relegation playoffs - Ackermann said his side would need to improve their discipline ahead of their match against the Sharks next week.
"Partially you can put it down to us making a lot of changes (to the team at half-time), but also it shows how important it is to play on a weekly basis," he said.
"Last week we were off and I think it was reflected in our performance.
"The signs were there that we weren't there for the game this evening."
