Lions need to kick bad habits

 

There were some familiar issues for Ackermann's side in their 20-30 defeat to the Brumbies at Ellis Park on Saturday, with a limp first-half performance forcing them to fight their way back into the game and errors in key set-pieces also letting them down.

 

The loss leaves the Lions in eighth position on the log with matches against the Cheetahs, Waratahs and Stormers to come, and Ackermann knows exactly where his side need to improve.

 

"There are habits that we have to change, it has worked for us for a number of games where we have managed to come from behind but this weekend we couldn't and you can't leave it for the second half every week.

 

"We have to look at everything we do and the small little details," he said.

 

Although there were some encouraging aspects to their performance against the Brumbies, Acermann still felt that his side made things too difficult for themselves and paid the price.

 

"Again the guys showed a lot of fight, but against a team of this quality that can play the tactical kicking game and hold the ball we were always going to struggle.

 

"It was mixed emotions in the first half, because we played quite well but then went into that slumber where we turn over ball and sides punish us. That we have to rectify, the tries that we let in were very soft for this level," he said.

 

One major area of concern is the scrum, which was put under pressure in the second half with the players who came off the bench battling to impose themselves.

 

"The scrum is a big concern, I would like to have a chat with the guys that came on because in my mind I don't understand how you can be fresh and not carry on with the job that the guys that started did.

 

"Players mustn't take that for granted that they will be there next week, they must work for the jersey and carry on with the basics that the guys that started put in place," said Ackermann.

 

Although there was a general improvement in the line-outs, Ackermann lamented the fact that his side let it slip when it counted most.

 

"We didn't lose a lot of line-outs, but the one we lost we could have scored from. Like the one scrum we spoke about, you can expect that they are going to come for a big scrum close to the tryline.

 

"It is those small little faults that are hurting us, Pocock didn't take too much ball, but the one that he did steal they went and scored.

 

"We have to look at ourselves again, there were moments that we couldn't build pressure. There was a moment in the game where we went two phases and then lose the ball, then one phase and lose the ball. The moment we started to build more phases we looked dangerous," he said.

 

Captain Warren Whiteley said that the team will be doing everything they can to turn things around in their last three fixtures as they bid to make the play-offs for the first time.

 

"We are looking for three massive performances and I have got no doubt that we are going to turn it around, this group has got great character and we are going to work hard," he said.