Clue: Eventually becoming fashionable at that time to admit covering a great distance before game (2,3,4,3)
Answer: IN THE LONG RUN
Explanation: Definition: Eventually
**IN** ("fashionable") + **THEN** ("at that time") *to admit* **LONG** ("covering a great distance) *before* **R.U.** (rugby union, so "game"), thus **IN THE (LONG R.U.)N