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Johannesburg - South African rugby legend and World Cup winner Joost van der Westhuizen, who died on Monday aged 45, will be remembered as one of the greatest scrumhalves of all time.
Many former internationals rate the Springbok standout second only to former Welsh great Gareth Edwards among international scrumhalf superstars.
His duels with fellow scrumhalves George Gregan of Australia and Justin Marshall of New Zealand two decades ago captivated spectators and worldwide TV audiences.
"He will always be remembered as an incredible rugby player," Gregan said during a dinner in honour of Van der Westhuizen.
Marshall also attended the function and said: "Joost was a magic player. When on song, he could win a game almost single-handedly."
Van der Westhuizen lost a long battle against motor neurone disease, the incurable nervous-system condition, after being rushed to hospital on Saturday.
South Africans cherish memories of the finest moment in a success-filled career when he set up the Joel Stransky drop goal which won the 1995 Rugby World Cup for the Springboks.
Watched by then state president Nelson Mandela at the Ellis Park stadium in Johannesburg, Van der Westhuizen delivered a long pinpoint pass from the base of the scrum as the clock ticked down in extra time.
Stransky calmly kicked the goal to give South Africa a 15-12 win over the Jonah Lomu-inspired New Zealand All Blacks to became world champions for the first time.
When the Springboks gathered in 2015 at Ellis Park to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the World Cup triumph, Van der Westhuizen attended in a wheelchair.
Van der Westhuizen was also part of the Springboks team that finished third when defending the world title in England four years later.
His Test career ended on a low note in 2003 when a South African team beset by pre-World Cup problems lost heavily to New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
First capped by the Springboks in 1993, he made 89 international appearances and scored 38 tries, a remarkable total for a scrumhalf.
"An incredible player and fighter to the end. The first of the new age 9's," tweeted Ireland and British and Irish Lions legend Brian O'Driscoll.
Instead of always feeding the flyhalf, the Springbok would launch solo raids, catching defences off guard.
Blessed with a strong physique, Joost was able to shrug off would-be tacklers and many of his Test tries came off runs from deep positions.
He was a product of the famed Pretoria-based Blue Bulls, a team that for decades had been among the dominant forces of South African provincial rugby.
After retiring as a player, Joost followed the employment route of many other former Springboks and worked for Johannesburg-based SuperSport as a TV analyst.
His divorced wife and their two children reunited with him to assist in his battle against motor neurone disease after he was diagnosed.
When Van der Westhuizen felt a weakness in his right arm during 2008, he attributed it to the after-effects of an old rugby injury.
But later, while playing in a swimming pool with his personal doctor, the weakness became more obvious.
The doctor suspected motor neurone disease - a devastating diagnosis that was confirmed by specialists.
Van der Westhuizen was given five years to live, and fought the increasingly debilitating disease with a bravery that touched South Africans.
By his own admission, an arrogant, aloof person, Van der Westhuizen won thousands of admirers with a new-found humility.
Apart from fighting the incurable disease, Van der Westhuizen created a foundation to help fellow sufferers.
Although confined to a wheelchair, he travelled to the United States and Britain to highlight the disease and take part in various trials as doctors sought a cure.
When told he was suffering from motor neurone disease, Van der Westhuizen reacted angrily.
"Why me?," he asked a specialist.
His attitude quickly changed.
"Why not me," he said. "If this is the cross I must bear to help future generations, then I will do so."
RIP Joost van der Westhuizen. An incredible player and fighter to the end. The first of the new age 9's.
— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) February 6, 2017
