Even the greatest sides can be reeled in like farmed salmon, assisted by a series of newish laws that can transform momentum quicker than you can say ‘Usain Bolt’
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hey won’t always say so publicly but every journalist is familiar with the concept of a “reverse ferret”. In the heyday of printed newspapers a piece might be filed in good faith only for new information to force a frantic, face-saving rejig for later editions. Plenty of coruscating “why oh why” match reports, confidently hammered out at half-time, have been known to morph into gushing symphonies of praise thanks to an improbable late twist.
It may just be that one or two backpedalling ferrets were spotted in the west of Scotland on Saturday night. To be fair, those reporters in attendance had every excuse. When the Glasgow Warriors trotted in at half-time they were 21-0 down to the most illustrious club in Europe, their chances of victory seemingly on a par with spotting Margot Robbie water-skiing down the wintry River Clyde.
To make matters worse it was an 8pm kick-off, allowing scant time for leisurely contemplation anyway. Here’s to a peaceful, restorative Christmas, then, for the head-clutching hacks who suddenly had to rip it all up and start again once it became apparent they were witnessing one of the great comebacks of this or any other Champions Cup season.
