My opponent and I had been exchanging blows and counter attacks for what seemed like hours, and now we sat, silent and depleted, like two punch-drunk prizefighters awaiting the final round of a gruelling championship bout.
Billy McKay, for instance, tended to be isolated up front for Inverness, although the visitors were quick and agile on the counter attack, only for the delivery in the final third to let them down.
Justin Tipuric - after a sweet offload from Mako Vunipola - was denied a try by Rokocoko's superb tackle, and the Lions might have scored one of the great tries in their history after a length-of-the-field counter attack, only for Farrell's try-scoring pass to Maitland to be intercepted.
Long ball eschews the beauty of intricate passing play and coördinated counter-attacks for trial and error: more often than not, the passes are headed out of play or kicked back down the field by the opposing team, caught by the keeper, or go out of bounds.
Ronaldo finished off a counter-attack for his 10th goal in four league games.
Kearney, who switched to the wing, profited from a clever counter-attack for Leinster's second try in the 13th minute.
But Fellaini equalised with a looping header, and Mertens finished off a swift counter-attack for the winner.
The Spanish striker was hugely relieved as he swept in after a counter-attack for his 11th goal of the season.
"With it 1-0 at half time, you're thinking you've still got a chance and we get done on the counter-attack for the two goals.
Rather than retaliate, the U.S. should see China's latest counter-attack for what it is and recognize the consequences of our own unfair attacks on Chinese imports.
