JORDI Murphy is ready to meet the physical and mental challenge of playing the heat and humidity of Durban.
The 31-year-old Ireland flanker knows how big a test awaits Ulster against the Sharks at Kings Park on Saturday afternoon.
Ulster have lost three of their last four league games, no Irish team has won in the Shark Tank and as well as the heat Dan McFarland’s side have to contend with the travel itinerary but Murphy, a British & Irish Lion, a European Cup and Grand Slam winner, will take it all in his stride.
“It's close to 24 hours of travel, you have to be prepared, try and get the sleep that you can on the right flights,” Murphy said.
“It'll be hot over there, so we've had to do some heat acclimatisation.
“Saunas, hot baths, things like that, stay hydrated, it's pretty simple stuff but anything that will help you on the day.
“You've got to be vigilant with it because if you don't do it until the day before it's going to be a serious shock to the system, if you can do it a week out, it'll start to help a bit.”
“We're not going to make any excuses, we're all professionals, we all know what we need to do.”
“You can talk about travel schedule and climate and all that but at the end of the day it's two teams against each other and if we're switched on mentally we've got as good a chance as anyone else.”
“I'm really looking forward to the game, it's a physical test, obviously a game that we would have hoped to have played a while ago but it's great that it's come around again.”
“We're really looking forward to the challenge that the Sharks are going to bring.”
“I've been told it's going to be 30 degrees, but sure on the very rare day in Belfast you might get mid-20s.
“It's about digging deep, and we'll have hydration protocols, there'll be a water break halfway through each half.”
“Making sure you get the fluids on, cool down, things like that, everyone is going to be in on it, strength in numbers I suppose, strength in numbers.”
“You dig deep in those situations and just get through it, at the end of the day we've to play a game of rugby and we know now that when you play South African teams at this time of year it's going to be like that so you have to go out there and get it done.”
It is a must win game for Ulster as they push to guarantee a top four finish and a home quarter final in the playoffs.
“We've got to fight for every point and this week in no different, regardless of if we've got to travel a long way, or the temperature, we have to go out there and give it our best and try and win the game.”
“The quality of the league, no games are easy, we know ourselves, we expect to win more games.”
“We're doing all the right things, we don't shy away from it when it comes to a Monday morning review.”
“We haven't been at our best obviously at times this year but we're hoping we can turn it around this weekend and start getting back to winning ways.”
“The league has gone from strength to strength in the last three years, especially with the inclusion of the South African sides as well.”
“If we want to be champions, we have to go through tough spells and that's certainly the goal of this group.”
