a week after the boks' victory over england in the rugby world cup final, du plessis was in the squad for another final — the 2007 currie cup final, in which the cheetahs defeated the golden lions 20–18. because of his late call-up to the world cup squad, he was the only member of the world cup winners to play in enough currie cup matches to qualify for the final (at least four are required). du plessis joined three members of the 1995 rugby world cup winners as the only players to earn world cup and currie cup winners' medals in the same year.