Cape Town - Springbok 2007 Rugby World Cup-winning skipper John Smit has extended his condolences to fellow great, Joost van der Westhuizen.
Smit paid tribute to his "schoolboy hero" who "will never be forgotten".
Van der Westhuizen, a World Cup winner himself in 1995, passed away on Monday aged 45, after losing his nearly six-year long battle with motor neuron disease (MND).
Van der Westhuizen, who was diagnosed with the illness 2011, played 89 Tests for the Springboks between 1993 and 2003.
He scored a then-Springbok record 38 tries and is widely regarded as one of the game’s finest-ever scrumhalves.
My school boy hero who became my team mate & captain,our legend J9 finished his toughest match today but will never be forgotten. #RIPJoost
— John Smit (@JohnSmit123) February 6, 2017