Veteran Springbok prop Os Du Randt hopes to make his final Test on South African soil a memorable one.
”This is my last season and I want to go out on a high,” the big front-ranker told the media on the eve of the Boks’ Rugby World Cup warm-up Test against Namibia at Newlands on Wednesday evening.
”It will be an emotional occasion and I want it to be a memorable one,” Du Randt said.
”From a playing point of view it will be important for the team to achieve the goals that it has set itself for this match as well as for the Rugby World Cup.
”I was fortunate to play in 1995 and 1999 and then missed out on the 2003 tournament. At the moment I am as fit as I have been at any time in my career and I am looking forward to France. I don’t want to disappoint myself or the team,” he said.
Looking back to 1995, Du Randt said the key to the Bok success was the hard work that was done in the build up to the tournament as well as the way in which the team had bonded as a unit.
”Developing a brotherhood becomes important when you reach the knockout stages because that is where the guys have to be tight as a team. The guys must play for one another”.
Du Randt added the highlight for him in 1995 was the opening match against Australia. ”I was a youngster and I was determined to do my best. I remember Kitch telling us if we won against Australia, it would put us on the high road but if we lost we would be on the low road. After we beat Australia the team believed they had a realistic chance to win the tournament,” he said.
Speaking on the 2007 tournament he said: ”Our goal is to win the tournament, which would be great. From a personal point of view it would be fantastic to get two winners’ medals, one in my first tournament and another in my last.”
Comparing the game back in 1995 to the modern game, Du Randt said: ”The game has definitely become faster. The line-outs and scrums are a lot better managed these days — in the past the line-outs were scrappy and it was a case of anything goes in the scrums. The game is also more physical as the guys are bigger and stronger than before.”
Quizzed about whether he would follow other South Africans in seeing out his playing days abroad after the World Cup, Du Randt quipped: ”My pension is on the farm!”
Wednesday’s Test will be Du Randt’s 73rd in the green and gold. — Sapa