Joost van der Westhuizen: Fearless rugby legend ‘broke the mold’

A year ago today, Joost van der Westhuizen finally lost his brave battle with a body-wasting disease, but his powerful legacy lives on in modern rugby.

Wheelchair-bound and barely able to talk in his later years, the South Africa passed away on February 6 2017 aged 45.

Motor neurone disease had left him a shadow of the figure who helped the Springboks win the World Cup in 1995, but his contribution to the game will never be forgotten, says former teammate Cobus Visagie.

“Joost basically created the new requirements for a modern No. 9,” the former South Africa prop told CNN’s World Sport show.

Joost van der Westhuizen, widely considered one of South Africa's finest rugby players, died on February 6 after a long battle with motor neurone disease.

The scrumhalf won 89 caps for his country and scored 38 tries between 1993 and 2003.

He helped South Africa win its first World Cup in 1995. As the first major sporting event to take place in South Africa after the end of Apartheid rule, the victory was considered a great political, as well as sporting, triumph.

The image of South African captain Francois Pienaar receiving the World Cup trophy from President Nelson Mandela became iconic. The tournament inspired the Hollywood film "Invictus," with Matt Damon playing Pienaar.

Van der Westhuizen was also part of the South Africa side which won the Tri-Nations -- now the Rugby Championship -- for the first time in 1998, winning all four games against New Zealand and Australia.

He played his final Test match for South Africa against New Zealand, in a quarterfinal defeat at the 2003 World Cup. At the time of his retirement, van der Westhuizen was the most-capped player in Springboks history.

After being diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, van der Westhuizen was bound to a wheelchair for the final years of his life. He is pictured in a re-enactment of the team photo from the World Cup victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.

He poses for a photo in 2014 with three England scrumhalves: (from left to right) Richard Wigglesworth, Danny Care and Ben Youngs.

Joost van der Westhuizen: The life of South Africa's rugby great

Prev Next

Van der Westhuizen was 6 foot 2 inches tall, but played at scrumhalf – a position traditionally occupied by the game’s smallest players, providing the link between teams’ backs and forwards.

“Some days I looked down when we were standing in a circle and saw a man with boots three sizes bigger than myself – a scrumhalf!” added Visagie, who played alongside van der Westhuizen at the 1999 World Cup and won 29 caps for his country.

“He had incredible speed, he had incredible bravery – he’s very well known for the tackles he made in the crucial 1995 World Cup, but also in all other games.”

curnow van der westhuizen rugby neuron disease_00012416.jpg

video

Related video Rugby legend battles motor neurone disease

In the 1995 World Cup final against New Zealand, van der Westhuizen stopped a rampaging Jonah Lomu when the giant winger had broken through the South African defense.

The Springboks went on to win 15-12 in extra time, in the first major sporting event to be staged in South Africa after the end of Apartheid rule. The ’95 side has achieved iconic status, notably through the Hollywood film “Invictus.”

“Who could forget that ’95 World Cup tackle?” former Springboks forward Alistair Hargreaves told CNN.

“He was fearless, and for a scrumhalf he certainly broke the mold. As a young boy, he epitomized what South African rugby was all about. We idolized him.”

READ: Roundup from the opening Six Nations weekend

READ: Fiji claims first sevens title of the season in Hamilton

READ: Van der Westhuizen vows to fight motor neurone disease

Courage on the field – and off it

Van der Westhuizen was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2011, having retired from international rugby in 2003 with what was then a record 89 caps for the Springboks.

Also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, the condition causes muscles to weaken and waste away over time. In 2014 the “Ice Bucket Challenge” became a worldwide phenomenon, with millions of people helping to raise awareness and funds to research the disease.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - December 10: Fans at Cape Town Stadium on December 10, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images for HSBC)

video

Related video 'It's part of our life': Rugby in South Africa

Although he never played alongside van der Westhuizen, Hargreaves – who left South Africa in 2012 to play domestic rugby in England – was fortunate enough to have met his childhood hero later in life.

“I met him after his career and I probably met him at a time that his illness really kicked in,” Hargreaves said. “If he was resilient on the field, he certainly proved to be resilient and even more courageous when he found out about the terrible circumstances he found himself in.

“What a brilliant battle he fought. You can only respect the man for what he did.”

After his diagnosis, van der Westhuizen set up the J9 Foundation, a charity dedicated to helping sufferers of motor neurone disease.

Visit cnn.com/rugby for more news and videos

“It is incredibly sad, but Joost fought a long battle,” Hargreaves added. “He was aware of the struggle he faced and I presume there is a certain amount of relief at the end of it.

“The guy has achieved so much, he’s done so much for rugby, I’m sure they’re going to hold him up as a real legend of the game.”