Tuesday 6 September 2016 12:20, UK
What you've got to keep telling yourself, if you're a passionate Lions supporter, is that not every "mission impossible" results in failure.
Having said that, there's a rumour going round that the Lions management considered putting the name of Ethan Hunt onto the shortlist for the role of head coach for next summer's tour of New Zealand.
Instead it is Warren Gatland who must try to shape the best players from four countries into the best team in the world, in what must feel like about three quarters of an hour.
As you are no-doubt aware, the first match of next year's adventure in the land of the long white cloud takes place in Whangarei, just seven days after the Premiership and PRO12 finals. Seven days, 12 time zones and 11,386 miles away. Perhaps the tourists can bond on the plane, then fit in a quick training session in the arrivals hall when they land.
Lying in wait, just three weeks after the curtain-raiser, will be the All Blacks. The first Test takes place in Auckland where New Zealand haven't lost since 1994.
How impressive are they? Well, if you're only as good as your last game then they are very impressive indeed, having recently beaten Australia twice in eight days. They were on course to eclipse their record high score against the Wallabies (43-6) in Sydney only for Kieran Read to get himself sin-binned with a quarter of an hour to go.
The task that faces Gatland and his merry bunch of hopefuls appears to be about as daunting as any in world sport. Pull it off and the achievement will surely rank alongside the most remarkable of sporting turn-ups. Ali beating Liston. Leicester winning the Premier League. An All Black player getting cited for foul play.
Optimism
And yet, there are grounds for optimism. Just remember how Wales went in June in Auckland. So-called 'Warrenball' appeared to have been ditched as the tourists opted for an expansive game.
Jamie Roberts was actually witnessed, in broad daylight, passing the ball and offloading. Who'd a thought it! When the ball reached the outstanding Liam Williams, the mighty All Blacks got a real fright. Might the same tactics work next summer with the best of England, Ireland and Scotland added to the mix?
As someone who came within a whisker of being capped by the All Blacks, Warren Gatland's motivation to beat them will be second to none.
Yes, the All Blacks have just smashed the Aussies, but Michael Cheika's men are not in a good place at the moment. It's not often the Wallabies lose six matches on the bounce. How New Zealand go against the Springboks in the Rugby Championship might be a lot more interesting, provided South Africa are not too hamstrung by their self-imposed selection policy.
After the year they have had, you wonder how the second-ranked team in the world would get on against the All Blacks. Eddie Jones has worked wonders with a familiar-looking bunch of England players, achieving perhaps the most remarkable change in fortunes in the space of a single season. From the humiliation of the World Cup to a series whitewash away to one of the southern hemisphere superpowers.
Jones ruled himself out of a role with the Lions, claiming his main priority is the World Cup in 2019. But wouldn't a crack at New Zealand next summer help the cause? If England were to make it to the final, who would they be most likely to find waiting for them?
A Lions tour could have given Jones priceless knowledge about formidable opponents. To defeat your foe, first you have to know them and understand what makes them tick.
Still, never underestimate Warren David Gatland. This Kiwi's CV encompasses a Heineken Cup with Wasps, two Grand Slams with Wales, oh and a Lions series win in Australia that came with all the time constraints that people are banging on about regarding next year's tour. He knows better than anyone how to fill Kipling's "unforgiving minute with 60 seconds' worth of distance run".
He knows the country. He knows the people. As someone who came within a whisker of being capped by the All Blacks, his motivation to beat them will be second to none.
The fans will also play their part. They will head to the other side of the world in their tens of thousands. Every campervan in the country will be hired. Every guest house and backpacker hostel will be full. Every stadium will be awash with red-shirted highly-vocal supporters having the time of their lives.
Who knows, mission impossible might just turn out to be next summer's box-office blockbuster.
