Don't worry Brits! You still have the Lions

The British and Irish Lions leave the pitch beaten by the Blues. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Don't fret British sports fans - you still have the Lions!

New Zealand's 5-2 semifinal America's Cup conquest of English sailing knight Ben Ainslie kept the good news coming in a big week for sport in the Shaky Isles.

Ainslie, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, is considered the best sailor on the globe but he and his British crew had to bow to the superior talents of Team New Zealand and their 26-year-old helmsman Peter Burling on the Great Sound in Bermuda today.

Burling and his crew won two of their three races today and will face either Team Japan or Artemis in the challenger final for the right to face off against Cup holders Oracle Team USA.

It was a great confidence boost for the legions of Kiwis supporters captivated by this latest quest for the world's oldest sporting trophy.

And the fact we gained Great Britain's measure hasn't been missed either.

A Crusaders win over the British and Irish Lions tomorrow in Christchurch will only add to the ignominy of sports fans in the Mother Country.

The Lions have been massively underwhelming in the opening two matches of their eagerly-awaited tour.

They barely squeaked home against a New Zealand Barbarians line-up of mostly amateur players, winning 13-9 in Whangarei in a dour display.

And they weren't much better against a Sonny Bill Williams-inspired Blues at Eden Park on Wednesday night, falling to the first tour defeat.

It won't get any easier against the Super Rugby table-topping Crusaders.

Already former Lions coach Clive Woodward is warning of further trouble ahead unless the tourists can address their penchant for giving away "needless" penalties.

But for Kiwi fans, it doesn't get much better than the past few days - despite the dramatic capsizing earlier in the week.

If Team NZ can kick on in the challenger final and the Crusaders can further dent the Lions' confidence tomorrow, it will cap a major week of sport where Kiwis have dined out at the expense of our Brit friends.