Heroes & Zeros

From brilliant Biles to banished Blatter, AFP looks back at sport's major winners and losers from a dramatic 2016.

All Blacks

New Zealand reinforced its billing as rugby union's preeminent force with an 18-match win streak - a record for a tier-one nation. It started with a thumping victory over Australia in August 2015 and blossomed into an historic sequence that included a third World Cup title as the Wallabies were vanquished again in the final. All Black greats Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Ma'a Nonu bowed out of the international game but Steve Hansen's team didn't miss a beat in 2016. A 3-0 series win over Wales preceded a convincing Rugby Championship triumph that culminated with a 57-15 rout of South Africa in Durban. New Zealand then beat Australia in Auckland to make it a record 18 straight wins before a 40-29 loss to Ireland in Chicago halted the Kiwis' superb run.