'Impossible' for Lions not to feel heat from horror start to 2022, but hope remains

It's "impossible" for the Lions not to be low on morale as a union, but Currie Cup assistant coach Wessel Roux insists they can't let a horror start to 2022 extinguish their will to keep fighting.

The men from Ellis Park haven't won a single encounter at senior level - both in the hallowed domestic competition and United Rugby Championship - since a superb 37-19 victory over the Stormers in Cape Town back on 4 December.

That represents a losing streak of eight matches, with the Lions lying 14th in the URC and their Currie Cup outfit languishing at the bottom of the log.

"I think it's impossible to have endured eight losses and not feel its effect," Roux, who coaches the forwards, said ahead of Saturday's meeting with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein

"We're in a professional business where the only currency is winning. We understand that and we also realise that we can't keep using the youthfulness of our squad as an excuse.

"I believe we are good enough to play good rugby at this level."

Indeed, even if the results collectively have been poor, the example of junior players such as fullback Quan Horn and flanker Ruan Venter breaking into the URC group by virtue of two excellent showings in the Currie Cup grants credence to Roux's point.

"As a collective, we definitely want to be better. We're feeling the pressure, but we certainly haven't given up," said Roux.

In fact, the former stalwart Bulls prop even believes it won't take all that much for the Lions to get back on track.

"The thing with rugby is that with one win you can change things quickly," he said.

"Obviously you want to win consistently, but to do that you first need to chase those smaller victories in different facets of the game.

"Hopefully that translates into a winning