The unbeaten Lions are reaping the rewards of the zero-tolerance approach their coach, John Mitchell, has taken with the team.

Mitchell's men have learnt that he does not tolerate mediocrity and that a lack of judgment on the field could cost them a place in the match 22 the following week - just ask flank Michael Rhodes who missed out on Saturday's 17-10 victory against the Cheetahs because of a yellow card he received the previous week.

After five weeks of Currie Cup rugby, the Johannesburg squad have not lost a match and kept their four point log lead over the Sharks intact by fending off a strong Cheetahs comeback in the most entertaining match of the weekend.

"It was a good performance and we knew that we had to repel a team that always tries to the end," Mitchell said after the match.

"We were very committed in defence and I was very impressed with that. "Sometimes you have to win games through your defence which has probably not been our strength in the history of the Lions in recent years, but it certainly is starting to become part of us and very important to us."

The Lions suffered another injury blow at centre when Alwyn Hollenbach had to leave the field in the second half.

This could leave the team with a predicament in that department heading into their match against Western Province at Newlands as regular No.12 Doppies la Grange is also still on the road to recovery.

Mitchell said that a last resort would be to move winger Deon van Rensburg into midfield.

Following the loss in Johannesburg, the Cheetahs are now in the same boat as the Blue Bulls who also have two victories to their name after they secured an unconvincing 16-12 victory over the Pumas in Nelspruit last Friday.

SAPA