March 29 - The one that got away. That could be well a description of the Lions’ 39-29 loss to the Highlanders on Friday in a Super 14 match they should have won.

The Lions scored five tries to three and dominated the match – except for 23 minutes, that is, in which time the Highlanders put 26 points on the board including two tries.

Lions coach Dick Muir afterwards admitted it was frustrating to lose in this way with the Lions ahead 17-6 and six penalties from Highlanders Israel Dagg drawing his side back into the game.

“How often must we go through this learning curve?” an exasperated Muir asked afterwards. “Our discipline has been good on the tour up to Friday, and that negated all the good work with the five good tries we scored.”

Like his captain Cobus Grobbelaar, Muir blames poor discipline and refrained from blaming referee Stuart Dickinson whose decisions sometimes baffled both the Lions and the Highlanders. Officially, however, it remains poor discipline.

• There was good news for the Lions after Jano Vermaak (knee) and Doppies la Grange (ribs) had to leave the field in the second half with injuries that seemed rather serious.

However, it is expected they will be available for the Lions’ next match against the Reds on April 9.

The Lions, who only fly back on Monday, have their bye this coming weekend after a strenuous tour that included five matches and a double crossing of the Tasman Sea to play their three matches in New Zealand.