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Family and farming first for Os

Os and Hannelie du Randt celebrate life without rugby

As they do in those classic movies from a bygone era, veteran South Africa prop Os du Randt rode off into the sunset like a hero that have accomplished his mission impossible.

The 35-year-old front row forward earned his second World Cup winners medal in Paris at the weekend.

He was a member of the Springboks side that defeated New Zealand 15-12 at Ellis Park in the 1995 Final and this past Saturday, 12 years on, the popular Du Randt repeated those exploits by playing the full 80 minutes in his country's 15-6 defeat of England.

After the game Du Randt confirmed his stated intention of moving off into retirement, content in the knowledge that he is now a member of a very exclusive club - a select band of players to have won two World Cups.

Australian trio Tim Horan, Jason Little and John Eales are the only other players to have two World Cup winners' medals in their collection, following the Wallabies' successes in 1991 and 1999.

Having joined such exalted company, Du Randt will hang up his boots.

"I don't remember much of the first one [1995], it's too long ago, but I'm going to enjoy this one," said the man nicknamed the 'Ox'.

"It's great to have won. All the guys put the hard work in and it was just great to be out there.

"I'm very fortunate to win again, so I have to thank the boys.

"I had decided before the World Cup that I would stop and this was my last match.

"I might make a come back in 2010 just before the World Cup [in New Zealand in 2011]," he said, quickly adding that he was only joking.

"No, this was my last game. I'm going to go back to my farm to see my boys growing up and enjoy my family."

Serious knee injuries kept Du Randt out of all rugby for two years and meant he spent four years on the international sidelines, before being recalled by current Springbok coach Jake White in 2004.

At the weekend he played in his 80th Test, making him South Africa's most capped forward of all time - third on the overall list behind backs Percy Montgomery (who played in his 94th Test in the Final at the weekend) and another 1995 winner Joost van der Westhuizen (89).

Asked how he had made such a successful return to Test rugby, Du Randt replied: "I think the reporters helped me a lot. I had to believe in myself, I always said: 'If you don't believe in yourself, why would anyone else believe in you?'

"That made me realise I had to go back to basics and prove these guys wrong. I'm a guy who likes challenge but it was hard.

"My family helped me, my two boys, if you see their admiration when they look and speak to me, you cannot not please them. You just do it for them."

Du Randt said he was especially delighted that White could enjoy World Cup success.

"I'm really happy for Jake and I'm grateful because he persuaded me to come back to the team for this World Cup and his plan has worked."

A great favourite of South African rugby supporters, du Randt said the backing he'd received from fans throughout his career had been another factor in his decision to return to top-flight rugby.

"It's something you can't buy. You asked about why I came back, one of the reasons was because of the Free State Cheetahs supporters. It's spiritual. Going back to Cheetahs games, winning the World Cup again, that's fabulous."

Du Randt, who lasted the whole 80 minutes on Saturday, rarely gives much away with his expression during the course of the match. However, there was no disguising the forward's joy afterwards.

"Sometimes you don't want to show your emotions because you don't want to look arrogant and want to keep concentrating on the game."

Du Randt, reflecting on his career, added: "There was some scary times and some funny times, but in the end it was good. There are a lot of good things that I'll always remember."

The South Africans join the Australians in having won two World Cups, and they will aim for a third in the 2011 tournament in New Zealand.

The squad will now go through tumultuous change.

Jake White is set to leave his coaching post, even though he has not confirmed it, while a host of players are making their way over to the cash-rich French and English leagues.

The likes of Francois Steyn, Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana will still be around in 2011 though, and captain John Smit believes there are good times ahead.

"We have a really colourful country, a diverse culture and 11 different languages," said the hooker, who is moving to up-and-coming French side Clermont-Auvergne for next season.

"The amount of forward momentum we have gained in the last 12 years, since the last time we picked up this cup, has just been incredible.

"I hope it will create a scenario where everyone buys into it and celebrates together.

"It's a great step forward for us to celebrate as 45 South Africans when we get home on Tuesday."