Sean Maloney: The Wallabies revival hinges on one massive call as rugby meets Russell Crowe

Anxious ahead of what was to come in the Wallabies' Spring Tour finale vs Ireland, I settled the night before game day nerves with a look at Gladiator II.

Denzel didn't disappoint, but the combination of Choc Tops and Colosseum got me so jacked up, I raced home to watch the original again on Stan.

It's one of the greats, it really is.

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Strength and honour, an underdog winning over the crowd who was previously calling for their heads... see where I'm going with this?

Anyway, Russell Crowe steals every scene and his lines are some of the most quoted in cinematic history.

So this week we're giving the Wallabies' final game of 2024 the gladiatorial touch.

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'MY NAME IS GLADIATOR'

You know the moment. Just before Maximus reveals himself to Emperor Commodus and says he'll have his vengeance in this life or the next.

Anyway, the Wallabies now have a legit gladiator of their own and his name is Robert Valetini.

The back-to-back John Eales Medal winner has always been a favourite down here, but his performances across the last month had him topping the ratings in the UK media too.

NEW PODCAST! Sean Maloney, Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles review the last Wallabies Test of the year and hand out some coveted awards

Fans and experts were all glowing. Like Maximus in the arena, he charges as hard as he can into certain danger and always comes out the other side.

He's done it over 50 times for the Wallabies now and at just 26, will hopefully one day crack 100.

There's a serious threat of injury for opponents when he's running and tackling - he would have done great in Rome too.

'ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?'

There were pockets of play in the early part of the year from the men in gold which were stunning to watch.

Sometimes it worked out, like their 80m try vs Wales in Melbourne.

On other occasions, like their return from the restart in Wellington, it'd look amazing but would come unstuck.

The key thing was, they were having a go with ball in hand when opponents were least expecting it.

And so the trend continued in Dublin with a few sublime moments which have me scratching my head days later.

The standout for me was Tom Wright's outrageous infield, around the back flick to Jake Gordon, five metres from the Wallabies line and under pressure.

It was outrageously good. Stupefying even.

If this is the sort of adventure and skill execution they're taking into 2025 I'll buy the whole damn lot.

Peter FitzSimons described the play perfectly here in more depth, it's a great read when you get the chance.

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The Suaalii factor that 'no-one really talks about': Player ratings for every Wallaby who played during Spring Tour

'IF WE STAY TOGETHER, WE SURVIVE'

Just before Maximus and his crew make their debut in the capital, he gives them a rev-up with that reminder.

In Dublin, Harry Wilson and his men adopted the same approach in defence and very nearly got all the way there.

Ireland, with 75 per cent territory, pounded at the Wallabies columns but they held firm.

In fact, there were chunks of the game which saw Ireland concede ground with ball in hand due to the ferocity of the Aussie 'D.'

They tackled angry but had a cohesion to their defence which nearly saw them through to one of their most famous wins.

Morgan Turinui and Stephen Hoiles break down the intricacies of how and why they were so good on that front on Between Two Posts.

'I WILL WIN THE CROWD. I WILL GIVE THEM SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE'

I think they call this 'foreshadowing' in the movie game. General Maximus sets up his return to Rome with this beauty while chatting to Proximo.

Not to get too far ahead of July 2025, when the Lions bring the best of the north and 50,000 travelling fans Down Under, but there's some foreshadowing about the Wallabies' popularity too.

The team have all constantly made a point of thanking fans for their support over there and back here this last month.

It's easy to lose sight with games on at 3am in early summer, but it's gone the other way.

Morgs tells me that the Wallabies vs England game is now the most watched ever on Stan. It's OK to wear gold merch again.

In terms of something they've never seen before, well, there's enough magic dust scattered across the group now to keep us on the edge of our seats for some time to come.

'WHAT WE DO IN LIFE, ECHOES IN ETERNITY'

Iconic and brings me to my final take of 2024. Coach Joe Schmidt has only been hands on with this squad since the end of May.

Six months, give or take. He's responsible for assembling his assistants. He's rolled 19 debutants through.

He's recalled players who others binned, he's stuck solid where he needed to and now finishes the year with six wins and seven losses.

His predecessor finished with two wins and seven losses over the same period.

Can't argue the numbers, can't argue the trajectory. Impossible to argue he isn't the man to take the country forward to our home Rugby World Cup in 2027.

There's obviously a number of things to smooth for Joe and his family - and that should always come first - but jeez I hope he re-signs for another two years.

Echoing into eternity as the man to spin Aussie rugby's fortunes would be straight Hollywood.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Before I grab my 9'6 Malibu and head for Fairy Bower in Manly, a run of thank yous and a farewell are in order off the back of 2024.

Thanks to producers Trav, Ollie, Liv and Pitbull who have brought you BTP all year, they're all rugby nuts who work overtime to add the gloss.

Thanks and farewell to good mate Hoilesy who departs after this week's ep to coach in the USA again.

Thank you to each of you who have watched a game or show with us this year.

I appreciate your company and can't wait to be with you again in 2025.

Finally, thank you to my understanding family who lose me for most of the year to a game, thankfully, the three of us love. I'm very lucky.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and see you for Super Rugby Pacific on February 14.