Matt Sherratt was frustrated to leave Lyon with just a try-scoring bonus-point but believes there were plenty of positives from a spirited performance in the European Challenge Cup.
The Blue and Blacks led through early Josh Adams and Danny Southworth tries at Matmut Stadium but they were out muscled by a French side packed with firepower.
Lyon battled back and took control of the encounter with five tries of their own and while Cardiff held the lead for a short time in the second half thanks to Ellis Bevan and Gabriel Hamer-Webb tries, they were unable to claim a fifth win over their hosts.
Instead Cardiff settled for a point, ahead of next Saturday’s home encounter against Toyota Cheetahs, and while Sherratt was again disappointed with his side’s discipline, he believes there were a plethora of positives.
He said: “It’s quite a difficult one to summarise really. I think the basics of the game is, the penalty count is 14-4 against us and we creaked at a set piece a little bit. They’re two things when you come away from home that you’re looking for at least parity to keep you in the game.
“But to score four tries and get a point is a positive. For Jacob Beetham to come back and play and for Steff Emanuel as an 18-year-old to get his first taste of rugby is a positive. That gives us a little bit more in terms of options and selection but if I’m honest a little bit disappointed with penalty count and elements of the game.
“It’s probably a little bit of a broken record but I just didn’t feel that we put enough of our game on the field. When we did, as I said, we score four tries, which was excellent away at a place like this but just not enough of those moments really.”
However, with 11 changes to the side that beat the Dragons last week, Sherratt was content with the point and knows next Saturday’s encounter is now crucial.
“I said that to the group at the end, I think that point could prove really valuable to us. We’d have liked it to have been five and then at the end there we’re playing for two points.
“To come here and get a try bonus point is pleasing but as a group I think we’ve got to want a little bit more than that night. Hopefully we’ll look back on it and it will be a point gained rather than a couple lost.
“t’s a massive game now in terms of pushing us up the table, as I said in the week. It’s a competition, which historically, we’ve done well in.”
“Our goal is to get knockout rugby at the Arms Park. Once you get that, anything can happen. So this is a point towards that. Hopefully we’ll get some more against Cheetahs next Saturday.”
He also singled out midfield duo Emanuel and Rey Lee-Lo, 20-years his partners senior, for special praise
He added: “It’s an 18-year-old and a 39-year-old I think. I was just speaking to Steff’s dad there. Just to see how proud his family is and watching Steff all week and watching him walk into the stadium and playing alongside players that he’s been watching through his youth has been a pleasure to watch.
As I said to his dad to have Sheedy inside him, Rey Lee-Lo outside him and Josh Adams behind him at the end of the game. It doesn’t come much better than that, but I’ve been really impressed with him all through the week in terms of his mentality towards the game.
“He’s genuinely looked forward to it, so let’s hope he’s one of many for a good young Cardiff player.”