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Lions look for answers after loss

IN LIMBO: Johan Ackermann PHOTO: Veli Nhlapo
IN LIMBO: Johan Ackermann PHOTO: Veli Nhlapo

THE Crusaders became the first Super Rugby team to win having travelled over the Indian Ocean this season, and their 28-7 victory has left the Lions desperately searching for answers.

The Lions' search field will be vast. Their kicking game was poor, their handling jittery, their performance in the ruck left a lot to be desired, their line-outs lacked authority and their scrums too often fell foul of the law.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann was as candid about his team's performance as he was about the visitors. "They didn't play rugby at all, if you think about it," he said about the Crusaders. "If you think about the tries that they scored and the mistakes that we made. They weren't as dangerous as the score reflects."

The coach believes the bye his team had last week had no impact on performance. "They were better than us. They were more clinical and execution was better. They were better in the air and we were poor at ruck time. They stuck to their game plan, we didn't and they were more desperate."

Ackermann was exasperated at his team's poor decision-making when they were in a position to strike.

"Twice we got turnover ball, where the ball just has to go through the hands and we pick and go next to the ruck. We get another one and the player tries to run next to the ruck and (Andy) Ellis went on to score. That is not the way we train. That is not the way we play.."

The Lions host the Sharks this Saturday and it is a match that suddenly carries a lot more significance.

"We have to pick it up this week," said captain Warren Whiteley. "It's our last home game before we go overseas. It's a must win for us. I know we are better than this."

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