WATCH: 'No malice' in Schoeman's red-card tackle on Libbok

Today at 05:28 AM

REACTION: Ruben Schoeman's red card was just one of several significant moments that caused the Lions' 10-29 defeat to Stormers.

The Johannesburg franchise started strongly and applied pressure on the hosts' defence.

In the 10th minute, scrumhalf Morné van den Berg thought he had crossed for the first try of the match. However, the TMO spotted Lions captain Marius Louw breaking the offside line and the try was scratched.

The visitors were heavily restricted on attack for most of the match after Ruben Schoeman received a red card for a dangerous clear-out on Mannie Libbok in the 20th minute.

Down to 14 men, it was a struggle for the Lions as they conceded three unanswered tries in the first half.

Trailing 0-15 at the break, the Lions produced a much better second stanza - scoring two tries via Edwill van der Merwe and Franco Marais.

However, ill-discipline was again at the forefront and they went down to 13 men for 10 minutes when replacement Manny Rass was yellow-carded.

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"Our discipline as a team is usually good," Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen said after the match in Cape Town.

"But I can't really argue about the picture [of Schoeman's red card]. I think if he wrapped it with his arm there wouldn't be too much wrong.

"The initial contact was probably not on the head but the reverse angle of his shoulder didn't look great.

"However intent-wise I don't think it was to hurt the player...you see where his head is, so there was no malice in what he tried to do.

"With Rass, he was a left hand away from catching the ball. I don't think he attended to knock the ball down."

The coach admitted that ill-discipline and silly errors made it difficult to gain momentum.

"The first time we scored we got called back. The croc-roll, and then we went forward and they [Stormers] scored from that penalty. Then there were the red card and the yellow card," Van Rooyen explained.

"There were probably like six to eight significant moments which made it difficult.

"The team showed great character, but that doesn't win you rugby games."