"There are times when you have to hold up your hands and say you were beaten by a better team, and this was one of them," said Ellis.

"We went full of hope and played well for about the first 15 minutes, with some control and putting the ball in the right areas of the field, but then they scored and just took over.

"They were bigger, stronger, fitter and did everything a bit quicker than we were able to do. We crumbled a bit in the last half hour, which was one of the disappointing things.

"The players felt they let themselves down, there was some straight talking afterwards, and now we have to see how everyone reacts. It was definitely one to learn from.

"Canterbury have won two of their three games and were a difficult side to break down last season, but we are at home and will be out to make that count."

Lions expect to make two changes to their starting XV and two positional switches.

Sam Overton comes off the bench in an exchange with hooker Matt Price, while last season's leading scorer James Hawken steps up at full-back. Matt Goode moves to centre and Craig Moir to the wing at the expense of Michael Rust.

Rugby Lions: Hawken; Hales, Reed, Goode, Moir; Geen, Handley; Greenbury, Overton, Hadfield, Cheney, Braband, Campton, Nash, Brady. Riding.

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