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Cape Town - Lions coach Swys de Bruin has reacted to his side's unexpected Super Rugby loss to the Reds on Saturday.
The Lions fell to a 27-22 loss in Brisbane in a match they were favourites to win.
READ: 5 talking points - Super Rugby, Week 11
The visitors scored all of their points in the second half, but despite their attempt at a dramatic comeback they could not recover from going 27-0 down.
It is the Lions' fourth loss of 2018 - they lost just once in the group stages last year - and De Bruin said he could quickly see from the side of the field that his side was in for a tough outing.
"They played very well," he said of the Reds.
"They were hungry ... almost desperate. I've been in this game for many years and I know when this team is hungry.
"They hit the rucks harder, they were first at the breakdown and every time there was a pressure situation I saw more hunger from then than us."
De Bruin said he never doubted that the Lions could roar back into the contest, but in the end there was just too much left to do.
"With our group I'm always positive. It was a good comeback, but it's not good enough," he said.
"We didn't start well enough ... that was the reason we lost."
In this coming weekend's action, the Lions travel to Wellington for a tough clash against the Hurricanes.
