Joost van der Westhuizen tragically died this week, after his lengthy and stoic battle with motor neurone disease. He was a mere 45 years old.
The dignity, courage and generosity of spirt the champion halfback exhibited in his finals days captured the hearts of many people around the world, even those with no interest in rugby.
A Life of Two Halves is one of the most moving films ever made. Its power could reduce even the most naive and dour individual into a blubbering mess.
When van der Westhuizen was at the peak of his rugby career, I was a young, rabid All Blacks supporter, who took losing to heart. Van der Westhuizen often reduced me to a blubbering miss.
Joost was the best player on the opposite side – he was bloody good and I didn’t like it.
How could this weedy midget haul down the mighty Jonah Lomu three times in the 1995 World Cup final? Why couldn’t the All Black forwards stop that perfect pass to Joel Stransky?
89 Tests, 38 tries. When will this guy go away?
Was van der Westhuizen the greatest scrum-half ever? This is a superfluous debate, but one thing is undeniable: he was everything a rugby player should be, regardless of position.
Joost van der Westhuizen was smart and skilful, fast and fearless. He was a leader who made those around him better.
The footage below shows the last 15 minutes of a 1998 Test match between the All Blacks and the Springboks, illustrating Joost at his imperial best. The Springboks are down 23-5, yet rally to win, with their No.9 the chief architect of the improbable comeback.
In the 67th minute, van der Westhuizen flashes in for the first of three Springbok tries. Look at the sudden anticipation for the gap. Look at the subtle dummy which fools three possible tacklers. Look at the searing burst of pace. This single moment of brilliance changes the course of the entire match.
In the 69th minute, Henry Honiball breaks the All Black line. The defence isn’t flash, but the quality of the pass by van der Westhuizen is top class, hitting the South African first-five flat on the chest, giving him amble time to engineer multiple attacking options.
Fast forward to the 76th minute and the Springboks are hard on defence. There is a scramble to pull down Justin Marshall, and who is hanging on to Marshall’s legs when a turnover is affected?
In the 77th minute, the Springboks win the scrum ten metres out from their own line. The New Zealand defence is swarming, but two key plays by van der Westhuizen improve South African’s field position. First there is the risky switch to Honiball to create space, then, among congestion, van der Westhuizen scraps outside the 22 where a penalty is eventually won.
It’s his work off the ball which is so essential, too. The positive body language, the constant chat, the marshalling of his forwards into the right direction.
Quite simply, this is the work of a rugby genius.
That day in 1998 I was 12 years old and I cried. The All Blacks lost.
In 1995, I was nine years old and I cried. The All Blacks lost.
This week I am 30 years old and I cried. Rugby has lost one of its giants, a man I eventually grew to admire immensely for his prodigious talent and fight.
Joost van der Westhuizen, what a pain.
Joost van der Westhuizen, what a player.
R.I.P. Kampioen.
Glen
Guest
The greatest halfback I ever saw and possibly my all time favourite player. And I am an Aussie. He was like a prototype for the perfect no.9. Size, pass, brilliant running. Like a quarterback who can both run and pass. Great tribute piece.
Barbara
Guest
Lovely tribute to a great player. Such a strong person who wanted to do things his way. RIP
dcnz
Guest
The best scrum half I have ever seen, and I am in my late forties. Haven't seen a better player emerge in the modern era of the last 30 years..... Won the World Cup for South Africa. I do remember Joost in the 90s as being the one to watch, and a thorn in the side of the All Blacks, my team. Then he become a legend for the second time, to have the bravery to show the world what MND looks like.
Lroy
Guest
;-)
mochyn hedfan
Guest
Really nice tribute. Well done.
Chinmay Hejmadi
Roar Guru
Great tribute to a great man. RIP Joost, I was unlucky to not see him live, but his legacy will live forever.
davSA
Guest
Touching article Adam Thank you. Loved watching that old footage. I was fortunate to have briefly met him at a legends charity game in Port Elizabeth years ago. A mate of mine sneaked me into the V.I.P tent at a Legends charity game so I subsequently paid a lot of attention to his life and health challenges . I well remember that even amongst those legendary players present , he was larger than life and stood out. When Joost first played provincial rugby he made a huge impact immediately. I was listening to John Robbie's talk show on radio (ex Irish , Bok and Lions scrumhalf ). Robbie said just watch this kid . He can already do things on the field that I never could. High praise indeed and how right he proved to be. Joost became very famous in SA and for a while maybe that fame and adoration got to him. But he made good and was totally forgiven by his adoring public.. yesterday I was so moved to see so many in the local shopping mall donning their Bok jerseys.
Bakkies
Guest
Justin Marshall? You can't be serious
mzilikazi
Guest
Indeed...he must always rate very highly in any list
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
What about Gareth Edwards?
Russell Neville
Roar Rookie
Hi Nick I'll give you my top 5 1) Arron Smith 2) John Hipwell 3) Nick Farr-Jones 4) Justin Marshall 5) Joost ver der Westthuizen
Mielie
Guest
Thank you Adam.
Akari
Guest
Just beautiful, Adam, and thank you.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Appropriate Adam ... a nice tribute for a champion of a man.. RIP
Stuart John Pearson
Guest
Let's hope the Wallabies and Springboks can honour Joost in Perth this year before the test match.
Lroy
Guest
Joost was always a step ahead of everyone else.... he won a test against the Wallabies in Perth when he grabbed a ball of a ball boy tapped it and scooted over for a try while everyone was standing around wondering what was going on. The IRB changed the laws to ensure you had to use the same ball if it was kicked into touch after that incident. Theres a pretty good case for him being the best scrum half of all time... he was almost like a flyhalf playing scrum half Has any other scrumhalf scored as many tries as he has?? So sad hes died like he has.
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Who is in your top 10 half backs?
Linphoma
Guest
Who can forget Lomu in that Final, double-teamed, nay, triple teamed the whole game finally bursting through with only Joost VDW to run over the top of... No where to run, the eyes of the nation, the world and the fate of the Rugby World Cup on the line ... all the cliches you can think of. And he takes Lomu, well at least proves enough of a speed bump to trip the big man up. Jonah Lomu was the unstoppable force that RWC but Joost VDW was that immovable object that day. Such sadness when you think both men are now departed.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Beautiful tribute. I was watching the 1995 World Cup final not too long ago. Joost was immense in that Test. I was talking to a South African over at Margaret River during New Years Eve, and he assured me that Joost was in fact the greatest South African player of all time. I don't know how he compares to Gerber, du Preez, Muller and Gainsford, but that was quite a complement.
Nick Turnbull
Roar Guru
Why?