There’s one heck of a storm brewing around the rugby corridors of Europe this week. Spain, needing a win over lower-ranked Belgium to reach their first Rugby World Cup in 20 years, duly lost the match in Brussels 18-10. This meant that Romania qualified automatically in their place, and that Spain must now defeat Portugal, and then Samoa, in order to reach Japan 2019.

135 years of history goes on the line once again this weekend as the 124th edition (no tournament took place for the eleven year duration of both world wars) of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious rugby competition gets underway.

Far from perfect but much, much better. That would probably be the report card attributed to last night’s 12-3 victory for the British & Irish Lions over the Crusaders in Christchurch. In a tryless contest, the boot of Owen Farrell was the difference, with the English flyhalf slotting four penalties – actually five, but more of that later – to secure a vital win for the under-fire tourists.

A display of vim, vigour, belief and determination has seen the Blues pile on the agony for the British & Irish Lions with a 22-16 win at a wet and windy Eden Park. The tourists were much improved from the lacklustre effort put out against the NZ Provincial Barbarians a few days earlier, but still looked like a side trying to lock down combinations, particularly in attack.

This was a little too close for comfort. The opening game of a ten-match tour that on paper at least, offered the British & Irish Lions their easiest challenge in terms of the quality of their opponent, proved instead to be a banana skin on which they slipped, fell badly, but recovered just in time to save face and start with a 13-7 win thanks to a second half try from Anthony Watson.

You certainly wouldn’t begrudge Dave Dennis getting his hands on the Aviva Premiership trophy next weekend.