But this tunnel is as long and drawn out as a Kim Dotcom court case. And it is going to end about as well as the tubby man’s stand-off with the American authorities.
At the start of March, Sanzaar had a meeting in Dublin to discuss the future of the Super Rugby competition.
It was said it had to change as the competition had become disengaged from the fans, supporters, sponsors and broadcasters.
It was called "non-optimal" by one of the organisers.
Great management lingo that one — non-optimal. Right out of the human resources, paper-shuffling middle management textbook.
Obviously the competition was not hitting enough KPIs to remain sustainable.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, little mention was being made of the real reason the competition was being changed — it cannot pay its way.
Sport these days is very much business, and when the income is not matching the outgoings, then things have to change.
South Africa pays two-thirds of the income to keep the competition going.
But with its economy in the toilet and civil strife threatening in the republic something had to be done.It is little wonder the competition is struggling.
Many stories were written last year about the travels the Highlanders had to endure. But did anyone think how much it cost to earn these air miles?
It would be serious coin. Just to travel all the way to Port Elizabeth to play in front of a crowd no larger than that seen at Bathgate Park.
Throw in the fact many broadcasters are starting to feel the pinch as viewers head to other platforms or turn off completely, then a perfect storm is brewing.
So almost a month ago, after the meeting in Dublin, deals were said to be done and changes were coming.But they are becalmed as negotiations and secret talks continue.
Was it ever not going to be like this? Do turkeys vote for Christmas?
If the Sanzaar chiefs can solve this peacefully then they should then head to Korea to fix the border stand-off up there followed by a quick trip to the Middle East to heal those rifts.
Three teams are most likely to be axed and the smart money is on the Kings, Cheetahs and the Force.
Now, those three all have their valid claims to survive.But we live in a world in which logic does not always count for much. The Cadbury factory in Dunedin was making a tidy profit but that could not save it.In professional sport, it comes down to dollars and cents. These teams are bleeding money so have to go.It is tough on them but a move to a more cleaner competition and fewer costs will make it more workable.
The competition should go to three conferences and revert to the format used in 2011-15: 16 games, plenty of derbies and a bit easier to understand.
There have been alternatives floated but most of them simply will not fly.
The decision is likely to come out in the next few days.Inevitably, court cases will arrive, and resignations called for from all corners of the rugby globe.
But before we get too smug down this way about our survival, just be glad it is 2017 and not 2010.
The Highlanders from 2007 to 2010 racked up a 15-37 record in front of empty stands. You could swing a cat around the terraces and hit thin air.If the cuts had come then, the Highlanders might well have disappeared.
They didn’t and for that down here we should all be glad.
Damn glad.