Saturday 31 December 2016 08:34, UK
2016. What a year for rugby union. New Zealand won 18 games in a row and looked to be unbeatable, until that day in Chicago when Ireland produced a superb performance and beat the All Blacks for the first time in their history.
It wasn't a bad year for England either - unbeaten under Eddie Jones - they have got better and better and with 14 wins out of 14, many are predicating them to challenge that 18 unbeaten run set by the All Blacks.
Of course 2017 is the year of the Lions and the best of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will head down to New Zealand to take on the world champions.
Don't forget you can watch every tour match and all three Tests as Warren Gatland's men look to create history.
There is plenty of action coming your way from the Six Nations to the Champions Cup and we caught up with Scott Quinnell, Dewi Morris and Nick Easter to get their predictions for 2017.
Six Nations: My heart says Wales but my head? Well I think those Irish boys are on a roll…
Champions Cup: For me I think that Sarries are going to defend their title.
Premiership: Can Saracens do the double again - I think they will be right up there but I think Wasps will beat them in the final.
PRO12: I have a feeling that the Ospreys are going to win it this year. And that's quite a tough thing to say as a Scarlet.
Lions captain: Without a doubt it should be Alun Wyn Jones. Go on Al.
Surprise Lion: My Lions bolter is going to be Ross Moriarty.
Lions predictions: I work closely with James Gemmell one of the most rough and ready New Zealanders you can ever meet and I'm still going to go 2-1 to the Lions. Only because we would have won it 2-0 already and won't really care about the third Test!
Six Nations: England by a mile. Ireland may have something to say about it but I just think England are going to get better and better.
Champions Cup: Saracens will take some beating. Munster and Clermont will be in the mix but I think it will be Saracens again.
Top 14: Clermont, they are playing some beautiful rugby and have the power upfront as well.
Championship: London Irish - they are just too good and are head and shoulders above anyone else at the moment.
Premiership: Sarries to walk it.
PRO12: Leinster. Irish rugby is flying high again and I think this will be Leinster's year.
Lions captain: Rory Best is the man to lead the Lions for me.
Lions bolter: I think Henry Slade will be a surprise inclusion and have a big impact in New Zealand.
Lions prediction: 3-0 to New Zealand. I really do hope that I get to eat some humble pie but if the Lions win this series it will be the biggest achievement in those players history and in the Lions history.
Six Nations: England to nick it in Dublin in what should be a Grand Slam Finale.
Champions Cup winner: I am going for the poetic choice which is Munster. After everything they have been through with the tragic loss of Anthony Foley. They have the history and the pedigree in this competition and they are the team I am going to pick.
Challenge Cup winner: Clearly it is my team Harlequins - I'm backing us to go one step further than we did last year.
Premiership: Again I'm going for Quins - how can I go against us?
Lions captain: I have two names going around in my head. One is Maro Itoje which would be a bolt out of the blue. He will start and will have the respect of the other players. The last time the Lions had a surprise victory was back in 1997 when they had Martin Johnson as their captain and he was not the England skipper at the time. The other name is another Englishman - Owen Farrell. He will have a lot on his plate though.
Lions bolter: My very own Harlequins tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler. He got capped four times for England in the autumn off the bench. He has a strong set-piece and I think his type of game outside the set-piece suits the All Blacks.
Lions predictions: Sadly I think it is going to be 2-1 to New Zealand. I think home advantage and the fever that will take over down there will ramp everything up. I don't think the decisions will go the way of the Lions despite this being the strongest Lions squad they will take out. But lack of time together and being battered in the mid-week games will be costly. I think they will win one Test though.
Catch all the action from the Lions series live only on Sky Sports.
