It's true that the Lions have previously - and validly - stated that their priority this season is to reach the top eight of the URC, but the manner in which they were eliminated from the EPCR Challenge Cup on Saturday was disappointing.
A 17-27 reverse to the admittedly accomplished Benetton - they are a thoroughly misleading sixth on the URC log - on their home turf in Treviso seemed all the more wasteful given that the men from Doornfontein had made an ideal start and had almost a full half to exploit a one-man advantage after home hooker Giacomo Nicotera was shown a straight red hard for a head-on collision with visiting second rower Darrien Landsberg.