Alun Wyn Jones has nearly done it all as a Test Lion.
Three tours, nine consecutive Tests and at least one victory over each of South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
However, a Test series win as captain would be uncharted territory for Test rugby's most capped player.
Ahead of the tour opener against Japan, the Lions skipper opens up ahead of his fourth tour with the British and Irish Lions.
Here's everything he said...
It's early days but how has the experience been so far?
"I think it has been good. We’ve kicked on from where we were at the Lensbury. That was short and sharp for obvious reasons, it has been nice to get in the group, the majority of English guys have come and the Exeter boys will be in soon as well."
Is it harder or easier with restrictions?
"I was asked this question before. In many ways, because the bubble is as such and will be going forward, it has… not forced us to spend more time together but it has let us develop a siege mentality from the start.
"Not against any rugby teams but against the threats to the tour as a whole."
How important is momentum?
"It always is. I’ve been to enough Six Nations launches to know that’s the buzzword always used.
"Obviously, it’s different, there are going to be changes in the first three games, people are going to have opportunity but irrespective of who takes the field in those first three games you want to get off to a good start and build momentum."
How are the combinations coming together?
"The combinations come the longer we spend together.
"We’ve been fortunate to have a very good two weeks, it’s funny, things feel very slow at the start, I suppose like when you learn anything, but we’ve quickly got to the point now with the opening game to see where we are and test those combinations.
"It’s not like a domestic game or a usual international, it’s 3,4,5 combinations and the message for everyone is to be ready for changes. It’s important it comes to fruition but it’s important at this level people learn things quickly."
Do you prepare as if you’re playing a South African team this weekend against Japan?
"I’m not going to look too far past this first game. Japan, how they did at the World Cup, they are a team that in some respects are arguably the best in the world.
"Having watched some of the Super Rugby teams, they throw it about a bit as well. I understand the question but I think as a test, going back to combinations, it is going to be difficult.
"Obviously, there are several parts of the game we’ve worked on and we’ll use and stick with through the tour, the basis of our attack and pillars of the park."
Is the aim to impose yourself straight away?
"You’d like to think so. That’s the aim, but you’ve still got to play the game like a Test match. You don’t want to lock yourself in but you don’t want to expose yourself either.
"Ultimately we’ve got the calibre of player and the players who can execute that. But ultimately you play the game and you don’t want to force anything.
"If we’re talking about momentum then we win the game but we want to do that with the pillars we’ve practiced."
Have you addressed the squad in Jersey? What will you say to them on Saturday?
"I’ll save that for the team!
"Nothing too emotive in all honesty, the sessions have been short and sharp. We’ve tried to shorten the amount of time on our feet and get the quality and messaging precise.
"I’ve said a couple of things to the squad about everyone needing to be ready and getting the job done with regards to the basics.
"It’s easy to overlook the first team because of the way they don’t play and the players they don’t have but you can’t ask the question about momentum and say we’re going to run riot because having been on a few tours previously with logistics, you don’t want to over-complicate things."
Anything specific about South Africa you've picked up on previous tours that you need to emphasise this time around?
"I’ve been on these tours but it’s the first one in a global pandemic with all the challenges off the field. In many ways we’re going to have a constant challenge off the field and when we go on to the pitch that’s the opportunity to express ourselves.
"That isn’t going to be wasted. There is a definite recognition for how fortunate and privileged we are to be here. There are a lot of people who have said it probably shouldn’t have gone ahead but we’re very fortunate and that resonates with the squad."
Do you remember the 2005 home Test against Argentina in Cardiff? Did you go?
"I didn’t go but obviously it was pretty special having a home game.
"Obviously there are still going to be fans there, but a lot less. It’ll be my first game for almost 18 months with fans so it’s nice that some can be there.
"There’s a definite opportunity to say farewell and give a lot of people the chance to come and watch us which is something we need to cherish because there’s not very little if any fans travelling."
On your first tour in 2009, did you look at the schedule as a youngster and wonder how the hell you'd bring everything together in time for the Tests?
"I suppose, yes, on one hand but looking back myself it was just excitement and I still am today, at the time. The challenge is to come together to create what is going to be a winning series with the Test side.
"You look at the Lions and that’s what it’s all about, what you want to be part of and I’m sure I’m not the only guy in the squad who’s chomping at the bit to get on with it."
Scotland and Ireland lost to Japan in the 2019 World Cup, will you look to draw anything from that?
"Obviously Gregor is attack coach, a lot of Ireland guys have done set piece, we’ve got all the clips and analysis so there’s a plethora of information available and on film and from a coaching side."
That 2009 tour saw things go back to basics after the 2005 one. Does that particular tour still resonate?
"If we were talking in a simple sense I think it’s very dangerous to look back, there are players here who want to make their own mark, write their own piece in a Lions jersey.
"That’s what I think they should be doing as well. The environmental stuff and spending time with each other, we’ll have more of that and we’ll make the most of it.
"I said it on the launch day, the fact that we are spending more time together, there may be a bit of cabin fever at some point but hopefully the most positive side effect will be performance and we’re all relishing that."
Covid cases are rising in South Africa, do you have sympathy for people out there?
"I think even back here rates are going up a little bit because lockdowns are easing.
"We’ve been fully informed throughout about the rise in SA and the numbers.
"The fear from a playing point of view is that the tour goes ahead because of the efforts people have gone to but on the public side of things we hope that people will get behind the tour and the fact that we can tour, keep the tradition going, the fact that it was at risk for such a long period of time but is going ahead, hopefully that will take some of the focus away from the situation that people in SA and Britain are facing.
"With regards to legacy work, I’m sure there’ll be stuff put in place beyond the Lions tour because otherwise, what are we doing it for."
After all the hassle, how does it feel to be about to start the tour?
"It has been a long time. Everyone was looking on before at the selection with regards to will it, won’t it.
"It went on for so long so to now be 24 hours from the first game.
"There has been a tremendous amount of work and effort to get it going and now it’s down to the players to get going as well."
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