Not too many positives have come out of the British and Irish Lions' opening match of their South African tour, at least not when you listen to the team management's assessment.

The tourists needed 24 points in the final 15 minutes to escape with a 37-25 win over a Royal XV in Rustenburg at the weekend.

But having trailed for 65 minutes of the match - being down 13-25, before the late three-try rally sealed the win - the word "disappointed" was used often in the post-match analyses.

Prop Phil Vickery described the match against a scratch team from several minor Highveld unions as a "reality check".

"We are disappointed with the performance, but we could have easily lost that game," Vickery told the media after the Rustenburg outing.

"The guys showed a lot of guts and courage to stick in there.

"I think it is a good kick up the backside, which you need. The reality of what faces us on this tour is staring at us."

He added: "The most important thing about the last two weeks is the guys have got together, we've met each other and it is a great group of people and coaches.

"Ultimately, that side of it is all finished now. It's about rugby, and that is why we are here."