Fans’ good cheer cold comfort to players

SATURDAY night, a Munster supporter in San Sebastian for the Heineken Cup quarter-final game was giving directions to one of his mates.

As faithfully as possible, given the language barrier, those instructions were passed on to the taxi-driver. He had never heard of the pub or the street, but did his best to find both. No joy. There followed more phone calls, text messages, but with exasperation rising in all parties at the time and miles being wasted, still no link-up.

Eventually, the penny dropped. The guy in the pub giving the instructions had come early to San Sebastian; the taxi and its occupant were in Biarritz.