Joost van der Westhuizen will go down as one of the greatest Springboks, but his greatest legacy is the work he completed off the field under the most trying circumstances, writes CRAIG LEWIS.
For any rugby fan who had the privilege of watching Van der Westhuizen in action, there are sure to be vivid recollections of some of his incredible feats during a virtually peerless 89-Test career.
For me, Van der Westhuizen’s try-scoring feats will always stand out. By the time he hung up his boots, he held the then-Springbok record for tries scored (38) and I still have this vivid image in my head of him crossing for a hat-trick of tries to reach that mark against Uruguay in 2003.
I’m sure for many others, recollections of his unforgettable tackle on Jonah Lomu during the 1995 World Cup final will come flooding back as we absorb news of his untimely passing. It epitomised the bravery of a player who put his body, heart and soul on the line every time he ran out for the Springboks.
However, there is another recollection of Van der Westhuizen that will forever remain in my memory. It came off the field in 2012.
It was a year after Van der Westhuizen had been tragically diagnosed with motor neuron disease, and he was attending an event in Argentina ahead of the Springboks’ first-ever Test against the Pumas in Mendoza.
The charity event had been arranged to raise awareness around his J9 Foundation, which was formed to aid sufferers of the fatal illness.
At the time, I was quite unaware of the extent of the debilitating effects of the disease. And so when I saw Joost for the first time, it was heart-rending to see this once immensely athletic Springbok superstar battling to stand, while being carefully helped onto stage.
When he addressed the gathered contingent of rugby people from all different avenues of the game, it was already clear to see how he was battling to speak (yet another of the debilitating effects of the neurodegenerative disease).
Nevertheless, with the same sort of fearless courage that he had displayed on the rugby pitch for over a decade, Van der Westhuizen bravely fronted up to hundreds of onlookers. He never shied away from the public eye and rather took the opportunity to draw people’s attention to the effects of this tragic disease.
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It was a powerful moment, and when he finished speaking, there were certainly more than a few people with tears in their eyes.
During such an event to raise all-important awareness about motor neuron disease, which was a common occurrence throughout Joost's battle with the disease, it dawned on me that this was what would would define the legacy of the legendary former rugby player.
In the face of immense adversity, he had found a means to inspire people and make a difference in the lives of others.
His J9 Foundation has sought to contribute to research and raise awareness, both locally and internationally, for MND, while supporting efforts across the globe to find a cure or cause, and will surely continue to do so even after he is gone.
To others, such as his children, Jordan and Kylie, he has taught them the values of his fighting spirit and living each day as if it could be your last. ‘If you don't believe in heroes, then you haven't met my dad,’ once read a sign on a wall of Van der Westhuizen's house as if to illustrate this point.
And in the months before Lomu passed away at the end of 2015, the legendary All Black paid a visit to Van der Westhuizen’s home and paid tribute to the scrumhalf who he regarded as a dear friend.
VIDEO: Jonah Lomu visits Joost
‘The most satisfying thing is that I can call you a friend. That keeps me going, man. That keeps me going,’ Lomu told him in the midst of his battle with a liver disease, while in a touching moment as he said his goodbyes, the hulking Lomu emotionally bid farewell to the wheelchair-bound Van der Westhuizen.
‘Take care, my friend,’ he said. Lomu then hesitated for a second before bending down to kiss Joost on the head. ‘Love you,’ he quietly added as he left with his emotion clear to see.
In such exchanges, it was again evident what an impact Joost had on people. They did not view him with pity, but saw him as an inspiration.
Indeed, this was the abiding sentiment I was left with after the charity event in Mendoza in 2012. It was one of being immensely inspired by a man who refused to be beaten by his disease and the cruel hand he had been dealt. A man who found a way to turn a life sentence into an opportunity to help and enrich the lives of other sufferers.
This is what he has done, and what the J9 Foundation will continue to do in his name. It’s the greatest possible legacy, and it’s how Joost should be remembered.
