Jacobus Petrus "Os" du Randt (born 8 September 1972) is a former South African rugby union loosehead prop who retired as the most-capped forward in the history of the Springboks (a record since surpassed by John Smit, Victor Matfield, Tendai Mtawarira, and most recently Eben Etzebeth, the current record holder). For most of his career, he played in the domestic Currie Cup for the Free State Cheetahs, though he spent one season with the Blue Bulls. In Super Rugby, he represented the Free State Cheetahs when South Africa sent its top Currie Cup teams to the competition instead of franchised sides, later represented the Cats franchise (now known as the Lions), spent one season with the Bulls before returning to the Cats, and still later played for the Cheetahs.
In 2004, he received his 50th cap for the Springboks in a 32–16 loss to England at Twickenham. It was however, not to be a day to remember for him as, "du Randt was dismantled in the scrum, lock, stock and barrel, by England's Julian White". Droning chants of "Os...Os" have become commonplace at South African match venues since the big man made his return to Bok rugby.
And despite calls that he was getting too old, White persisted in selecting du Randt for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France.
Later career
Following victories in pool play over England, Manu Samoa, and Tonga and a quarter-final win over Fiji and semi-final victory against Argentina, du Randt and his South African teammates found themselves in a rematch against defending champions England in the final. The favoured Springboks dethroned England 15–6 in a hard-fought final, with Os playing all 80 minutes which included one bullocking run in the first half.
Du Randt was the last active member of the South African 1995 Rugby World Cup-winning squad and retired as South Africa's third most-capped player ever and most-capped forward. He missed the 2003 tournament through injury, but he came back to help lead the Springboks to the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
When interviewed, du Randt said "I would have to say that I never thought I would bow out in a World Cup final, when I called it a day in 2000. To begin with a world title and to finish with another would be a real accomplishment, a memory that I will cherish for ever. I dedicate this to my best friend, Alex."
When questioned about his teammate, fellow Springbok prop CJ van der Linde said "Os is a legend in South African rugby. Even little children know who he is. His name will be mentioned for many years still," Van der Linde said. "We do not realise what impact he makes. One day, when he is old, we will know what great work he did for South Africa and what a leader he was."
Following the victory in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, Os announced his international retirement from the Springboks.
Du Randt returned to the sport for the 2009 Currie Cup season as a scrum coach for the Free State Cheetahs. In 2010, he took on the same position with the Springboks.
International statistics
Test match record
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%; width:75%;"
|-
! style="width:30%;" | Against
! abbr="Played" style="width:15px;" | P
! abbr="Won" style="width:10px;" | W
! abbr="Drawn" style="width:10px;" | D
! abbr="Lost" style="width:10px;" | L
! abbr="Tries" style="width:15px;" | Tri
! abbr="Points" style="width:18px;" | Pts
! abbr="Won" style="width:18px;" | % won
|- bgcolor="#d0ffd0" align="center"
|-
| align="left" | || 5 || 5 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 15 || 7 || 0 || 8 || 1 || 5 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 3 || 1 || 0 || 2 || 1 || 5 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 5 || 4 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 6 || 3 || 1 || 2 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 3 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 5 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 5 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 18 || 5 || 0 || 13 || 1 || 5 ||
|-
| align="left" | 24px|border Pacific Islanders || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 7 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
| align="left" | || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 ||
|-
! Total || 80 || 52 || 1 || 27 || 5 || 25 ||
|}
Test tries (5)
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
! Tries !! Opposition !! Location !! Venue !! Competition !! Date !! Result
|-
| align="center" | 1 || || Cape Town, South Africa || Newlands || 1996 Tri Nations || ||
|-
| align="center" | 1 || || Cape Town, South Africa || Newlands || Test match || ||
|-
| align="center" | 1 || || Brisbane, Australia || Suncorp Stadium || 1997 Tri Nations || ||
|-
| align="center" | 1 || || Bologna, Italy || Dall'Ara Stadium || Test match || ||
|-
| align="center" | 1 || || Cape Town, South Africa || Newlands || Test match || ||
|}
World Cup matches
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
{| class="wikitable unsortable" style="font-size:93%"
|-
! No. !! Date !! Opposition !! Venue !! Stage!! Position !! Tries !! Result
|-
| align="center"; colspan="8" | 1995
|-
| 1. || 25 May 1995 || || Newlands, Cape Town || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 2. || 10 Jun 1995 || || Ellis Park, Johannesburg || Quarter-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 3. || 17 Jun 1995 || || Kings Park, Durban || Semi-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 4. || 24 Jun 1995 || || Ellis Park, Johannesburg || bgcolor=gold | Final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| align="center"; colspan="8"| 1999
|-
| 5. || 3 Oct 1999 || || Murrayfield, Edinburgh || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 6. || 10 Oct 1999 || || Murrayfield, Edinburgh || Pool match || Substitute || ||
|-
| 7. || 15 Oct 1999 || || Hampden Park, Glasgow || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 8. || 24 Oct 1999 || || Stade de France, Paris || Quarter-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 9. || 30 Oct 1999 || || Twickenham, London || Semi-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 10. || 4 Nov 1999 || || Millennium Stadium, Cardiff || style="background: #c96;" | Third place play-off || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| align="center"; colspan="8" | 2007
|-
| 11. || 9 Sep 2007 || || Parc des Princes, Paris || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 12. || 14 Sep 2007 || || Stade de France, Paris || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 13. || 30 Sep 2007 || || Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier || Pool match || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 14. || 7 Oct 2007 || || Stade Vélodrome, Marseille || Quarter-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 15. || 14 Oct 2007 || || Stade de France, Paris || Semi-final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
| 16. || 20 Oct 2007 || || Stade de France, Paris || bgcolor=gold | Final || Loosehead prop || ||
|-
|}
Honors
- In 2019, World Rugby inducted Du Randt to its Hall of Fame, alongside Richie McCaw, Shiggy Konno, Peter Fatialofa, Graham Henry, and Diego Ormaechea.
See also
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 619
References
External links
- Os du Randt's fanpage
- Os Du Randt at sarugby.com
- Interview with the Independent in 2007
- – Interview in October 2007 with news24.com
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