Ndungane: Travel no excuse

The Durban-based franchise are close to completing a tough run of games which has seen them travel to New Zealand to face the Blues, Highlanders and Chiefs before returning to Durban to face the Hurricanes. 

They have now travelled to Argentina to face the Jaguares and after that match they will head back to South Africa to face the Southern Kings. 

So far the Sharks have picked up two wins and two losses in that sequence of matches.

"We cannot let travel be an excuse," said Ndungane.

"All the teams have to travel. You are well aware of the travel way in advance so you can't use it as an excuse. You just have to prepare well and make sure that come the weekend you are not fatigued and you can still put in a big performance."

The Sharks are coming off an impressive 32-15 win over the Hurricanes and Ndungane believes their performance in that match has given them much needed confidence for the rest of the tournament.

"We have been working hard throughout the whole season. We were creating opportunities, but not putting them away, so it was good to make those opportunities and actually put them away [against the Hurricanes].

"We had a good win, but obviously we still want to keep improving. 

"It was a big boost for us. It gave us a lot of momentum and confidence," he added 

The Sharks recorded a hard-fought 19-15 win when they met the Jaguares in Durban earlier this season and Ndungane is expecting another tough battle.

"They [Jaguares] will be difficult. They are a good team - they gave the Kings a good hiding and they are coming off a bye so they will definitely be tough."

@rugby365com