Os du Randt

Early career

Du Randt made his Springbok debut in October 1994 against Argentina in a 42–22 victory. He was part of the 1995 World Cup squad and played loosehead prop in the final as South Africa beat New Zealand 15–12. Rugby World magazine ranked him the second-best loosehead of all time in 1999. In 2000, at age 27, he suffered injuries that sidelined him for nearly three years.

Comeback

In 2003, former Springbok teammate Rassie Erasmus, then coaching the Free State Cheetahs, called du Randt and invited him to return. Du Randt agreed and resumed playing. After an age-defying domestic season in 2004, new Bok coach Jake White recalled him to the national team. Du Randt became a key figure in South Africa's 2004 revival, which included a Tri Nations title and the IRB World Team of the Year award. He later said he had not expected to wear the Springbok shirt again and that the opportunity felt like the first time. He faced media criticism about being too old. In 2004 he earned his 50th cap in a 32–16 loss to England, where England's Julian White dominated him in the scrum. Chants of "Os" became common at South African venues after his return. Despite doubts about his age, White kept selecting him for the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Later career

South Africa won pool matches against England, Manu Samoa, and Tonga, then defeated Fiji in the quarter-finals and Argentina in the semi-finals. In the final, a rematch against defending champions England, the Springboks won 15–6. Du Randt played all 80 minutes and made a bullocking run in the first half. He was the last active member of the 1995 World Cup-winning squad and retired as South Africa's third most-capped player and most-capped forward.

He missed the 2003 tournament due to injury but returned to help lead the Boks to the 2007 title. Du Randt said he never thought he would end his career in a World Cup final and dedicated the victory to his best friend, Alex. Teammate CJ van der Linde called him a legend known even to small children. After the 2007 final, du Randt announced his international retirement. He later became a scrum coach for the Free State Cheetahs in 2009 and for the Springboks in 2010.