Connacht’s play-off hopes were dealt a blow when they went down 33-21 to the Lions in Johannesburg.
The hosts ran in five tries to the Irish side’s three to seal a sixth successive win at Ellis Park and boost their chances of making it to the quarter-finals for the first time.
Right-wing Angelo Davids set the ball rolling with just five minutes gone before centre Henco van Wyk and then flanker Sibabalwe Mahashe went over, fly-half Chris Smith adding all three conversions to give the South Africans a 21-0 half-time advantage.
It was 28-0 within five minutes of the restart after Smith converted winger Erich Cronje’s try, but the visitors finally got on the board when, with Lions prop SJ Kotze having been sent to the bin, replacement Matthew Devine crossed, and full-back Sam Gilbert added the two points.
Van Wyk’s second with eight minutes remaining re-established a healthy advantage, but Connacht rallied as the final whistle approached.
Devine touched down for a second time and number eight Paul Boyle followed suit at the death, with Gilbert successful on both occasions to drag their side back to within 12 points.
