Springbok rugby hero Joost van der Westhuizen, dying from motor neurone disease, speaks of his Christian faith

 Joost van der Westhuizen is a name well known to rugby fans the world over.

It was the scrum half’s try saving tackle on the towering All Black wing Jonah Lomu in the World Cup rugby final in 1995 which arguably won the tournament for South Africa.

He went on to win the Tri Nations in 1998 and captained the Boks at the 1999 World Cup, when they were beaten in extra time in the semi-finals by eventual winners Australia.

The 42 year old is now dying of motor neurone disease (MND) which he contracted in 2011. Progressive muscular weakness has now left him in a wheelchair and barely able to speak.

This last week the BBC and Daily Mail have both run articles about which give testimony to his strong Christian faith.

Van der Westhuizen scored 38 tries in 89 Tests for the Springboks after making his international debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires in 1993.

He played his last match in the Green and Gold against New Zealand in Melbourne in November in 2003, retiring as South Africa’s most-capped player.

Since being diagnosed with MND, he has set up the J9 Foundation, which is a charity that raises awareness about the disease.

Despite his personal plight, van der Westhuizen said he’s made peace with his situation.

‘I realise every day could be my last’, he told BBC Sport.

‘I led my life at a hundred miles an hour. I’ve learnt that there are too many things that we take for granted in life and it’s only when you lose them that you realise what it is all about.’

‘It’s been a rollercoaster from day one and I know I’m on a deathbed from now on. I’ve had my highs and I have had my lows, but no more. I’m a firm believer that there’s a bigger purpose in my life and I am very positive, very happy,’ he said.

‘I know that God is alive in my life and with experience you do learn. I can now talk openly about the mistakes I made because I know my faith won’t give up and it won’t diminish. It’s only when you go through what I am going through that you understand that life is generous.’

For Van der Westhuizen, life is now chiefly about spending time with his family. He has two children, Jordan, seven, and a five-year-old daughter, Kylie.

This testimony makes a welcome change for the BBC which usually highlights motor neurone disease in the context of the debate around legalising assisted suicide debate. But van der Westhuizen’s testimony opens a window into what is the more usual reality for most sufferers.

There are in fact 5,000 people in the UK with MND, of whom around 1,000 will die from the disease each year, three each day.

The vast majority do not want help to end their lives but assistance to live as comfortably as possible in the days they have left.

I have already drawn attention on this blog to Alistair Banks’ inspiring story of courage. Dubbed ‘the incurable optimist’ (right) he finally passed away on 9 January this year but a tribute site, and his blog are still available along with a statement from the Motor Neurone Disease Association for which he did so much.

His family speak of being ‘so very proud of the way that despite the disease he inspired so many people and left such an incredible legacy for his children and others’.

His optimism was not unusual, he maintained.

'Everyone I know with MND is trying to do positive things, otherwise they would sink into despair. It’s a coping mechanism. Doing things means that you can pull in friends and family to share something both fun and rewarding.'

Earlier this year the inspirational film ‘I am Breathing’ was promoted as part of motor neurone disease awareness.

It follows the last few months of Neil Platt’s life, seeing him go from being a healthy 30 something to becoming completely paralyzed from the neck down from MND. As his body gets weaker, his perspective on life changes. His humour remains, but a new wisdom emerges:

‘It's amazing how adaptable we are when we have to be. It's what separates us and defines us as human beings.’

Another Briton with MND, Rev Michael Wenham, has told the Independent about his determination to keep on living life. Diagnosed in 2002 with a rare, slower form of Motor Neurone Disease, Michael has always intended on not giving up.

In his book, 'My Donkey Body' he clearly and compassionately describes the process of being diagnosed with the terminal disease, and the struggle of living with the condition. He also deals eloquently with these issues on his blog.

A few years ago on a visit to South Africa I was able to link him with another South African Christian with MND, Jozanne Moss,  with whom he later co-authored ‘I choose everything’. The book is available on Amazon, has its own face book page and is recommended by the Motor Neurone Disease Association. 

Jozanne died in February 2012 and there is a beautiful tribute to her on Michael’s blog, which ends with a quotation he believes would fit Jozanne from Charles Dickens:

‘Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.’

We all will one day die, unless Christ’s return comes first, but for most the dying process will be far easier than for those with MND. 

This is precisely why these stories of triumph over adversity from those facing death with this frightening disease should get more column inches and air time. They give strength to others and are a refreshing balance to the negative images we often get of the dying process from the media.

Stories of hope in the face of suffering can bring reality, courage and hope to a society that so desperately needs them. Let’s please have more of them. 

Arise Sir Richie! It was a tough fight but the right team won

By most reckonings New Zealand’s victory in the rugby world cup final last night should have been a mere formality.

The All Blacks were playing France, who they beat by 20 points in the pool stage of the competition, in front of a stadium of over 50,000 supporters at Eden Park, Auckland where they have not lost for 17 years.

They had been the most impressive team throughout the tournament by a distance, scoring 73 more points and 11 more tries than any other side. And they had just dispatched Australia, the world number two side and tri-nations champions 20 to 6 with a consummate display of all round skills in the semi-finals.

By contrast France had limped through to the finals, losing two pool games on the way, sneaking past Wales in the other semi-final by just one point after a controversial red card had left their opponents playing 60 minutes with 14 men.

But all New Zealanders, including the All Blacks themselves, approached this game with trepidation. France, unlike any other side, have the ability to lift their game for the big occasion, and in the 1999 and 2007 world cups had sent the All Blacks packing with inspired second half performances.

True to form, France lifted their game again for this final and, many would say, were perhaps unlucky not to have won. Instead they went down 8-7, denied by desperate All Black defence.

Like most Kiwis I found the whole experience unbelievably stressful. I felt elation at the end of course, but this was overshadowed by a feeling of profound relief.

After 24 years since the last world cup victory, the agony was finally over.

‘Not pretty’, as captain Richie McCaw said, but effective, and after all a win is a win.

This win makes it two-all for South Africa, Australia and New Zealand in world cups and is especially important for New Zealand because of the trauma the country has been through in the last year.

Just over a year ago an earthquake of 7.1, miraculously non-fatal, struck Christchurch on the same day that a plane crashed on the Fox glacier killing nine people. Two months later 29 died in the Pike River mining disaster and in February this year 181 died in a second Christchurch earthquake which destroyed most of the centre of the city.

On world scale these might not seem to be big numbers, but for a small country of 4 million people they were devastating. And the damage from the current ongoing oil spill from the stranded container ship Rena, off the North Island’s east coast, had added insult to injury.

In addition all New Zealanders felt the pressure to throw off our reputation for under performing at world cups.

New Zealanders are rubgy’s leading points scorers of all time and the only international team with a winning record against every test nation they have ever played. The All Blacks have held the top ranking in the world for longer than all other countries combined and in over 100 years only five of the top twenty ranked test rugby nations have ever beaten them.

New Zealand competes annually with Australia and South Africa in the Tri Nations competition, and has won the trophy a record ten times in its 16 year history. They have also completed a northern hemisphere Grand Slam four times (in 1978, 2005, 2008 and 2010), defeating all four Home Nations (England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland) during one tour. Ireland and Scotland have never beaten them.

They have won a record 75% of all rugby matches they have ever played since 1903 and they were named the International Rugby Board (IRB) Team of the Year in 2005, 2006, 2008 and a record fourth time in 2010. In the decade from 2000–2009, New Zealand won 100 Tests (82% winning percentage). They won 15 consecutive Tests at one point and recorded a world record 30 straight wins at home.

In view of New Zealand’s dominance, their lack of success in world cups has been one of the great mysteries of modern sporting history.

France was truly magnificent last night. By contrast, the All Blacks stuttered and probably put in their worst performance of the tournament, missing three out of four kicks at goal and having only 45% of the possession.

But the result was the right one for the country and for international rugby. Apart from captain McCaw, who has finally won in his third and last world cup, probably the happiest man on the pitch last night was New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, who faces a national election on 26 November. Losing their third fly half in the tournament during the match made things even harder. But it was perhaps ironic that their fourth choice Stephen Donald, kicked the winning goal.

If the All Blacks had lost last night he could have effectively written off his chances. But now, with the change in national morale this victory will bring, perhaps he still has at least a fighting chance.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – Aaron Cruden is no stranger to challenge and adversity

Aaron Cruden may be New Zealand’s fourth choice fly half after Carter, Slade and Evans but he is no stranger to challenge and adversity and should not be underestimated going into the World Cup semifinal tomorrow against Australia.

The 22 year old made his provincial debut for Manawatu Turbos in 2008 and captained New Zealand to the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship title in 2009 in Japan, as well as being named IRB Junior Player of the Year 2009.

He made his Super 15 Hurricanes debut on 29 January 2010 against the Brumbies in Porirua and on 30 May last year was named as one of four new caps in the All Blacks squad to play test matches against Ireland and Wales.

On 12 June he made his All Blacks debut in the 66–28 victory over Ireland in New Plymouth, subbing for Dan Carter, and later took part off the replacement bench in two victories over Wales, then made his Tri Nations debut against the Springboks in Wellington on 17 July.

He missed out on the All Blacks Tri Nations and World Cup squad this year but played superbly during the Air New Zealand Cup and with the adductor injuries to Carter and Slade now finds himself starting at number 10 in the biggest test of his sporting life.

Cruden kept a cool head when coming on as a replacement in the All Blacks' 33-10 World Cup Quarter Final victory over Argentina, at Eden Park, and contributed a conversion to the score.

Now the nation’s hopes rest upon his young shoulders.

Without Carter there will always be question marks ahead of an All Blacks Aussie clash but Cruden has the potential to make it on the big stage. He has the talent, the confidence and the support to step up to the big occasion and has his Super 15 team mates around him. The injury to Carter now leaves the All Blacks with a Hurricanes backline from halfback to wing with Weepu, Cruden, Nonu, Smith and Jane at 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 respectively.

And Cruden has shown that he also has the character to meet tough challenges.

He will be unfazed at being thrust into the World Cup pressure cooker after surviving a cancer scare three years ago, according to his father.

His father, Stu, said his son matured after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008 and was ready for any challenge. He had to take time out from rugby to undergo surgery and an intensive nine-week chemotherapy course before receiving the all-clear by medics at the end of 2009.

‘He was a pretty well-balanced lad before that, pretty focussed on things he wanted to do and we can't really explain what came to him, or from him, from that cancer,’ Cruden senior said. ‘But we've certainly seen a changed person, he's more mature, he's more balanced and he just takes every opportunity he gets now. He doesn't get down when anything goes wrong, he just believes that every day's another day to be alive.’ He'll be the first to tell you that he's now past that part of his journey – his cancer's in remission and that's where he wants it to stay, he's just getting on with life,’ his father added. ‘Whatever life throws at his now, he's prepared to take the challenge.’

Cruden, who on the All Blacks' website lists cyclist and six times Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, a fellow cancer survivor, as the person he would most like to meet, is now preparing to play the biggest game of his life.

Cometh the hour, cometh the man.

Arise Sir Richie! We salute you. 100 tests down and still going.

As Kiwis we all watched last night’s world cup rugby showdown between New Zealand and France in fear and trembling in view of the painful memories of the disastrous losses of 1999 and 2007.

But it was a consummate display by the All Blacks who ran in five tries to two to turn out 37-17 winners and secure their place in the Southern Hemisphere side of the draw to play a quarter final against Scotland or Argentina.

Barring a major upset France now look likely to meet England on the North side of the draw.

There are still areas of the game to work on. We won the second half only by 18-14 due to a French intercept and later a second opportunistic try following a quickly taken penalty, along with some misdirected passes and lost attacking opportunities on our part, but the overall margin was comfortable.

But for me the real emotion was in seeing Richie McCaw, All Black captain, secure his 100th cap – the first All Black to do so.

After a tough year beginning with the Christchurch earthquake, which the Crusaders team endured like all other residents, McCaw almost led his provincial team to victory in the Super Fifteen final, until glory was snatched by some Genia genius. Glory in Queensland was not to be and sometimes winning is not everything.

But we all want to see Richie raise the Webb-Ellis cup on 24 October.

The signs spectators held at last night's game said it all. There was ‘Richie McCaw. Marry me. I’m French’ and of course ‘Arise Sir Richie’.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key has already hinted at the honour.

Speaking ahead of the first of a regular series of media briefings on preparations for the World Cup, Key said the ‘dream scenario’ would be a New Zealand versus Australia final – ‘with a substantial All Black victory’.

He added there was ‘massive pressure’ on McCaw and his team, because New Zealanders want their team to win so desperately. Asked if there was an honour in it for McCaw if the All Blacks won, Key said he hoped so. ‘Can't think of anything more joyous than Sir Richard McCaw,’ he said.

Well an Australia v New Zealand final is not going to happen. Ireland has made sure of that and has in the process virtually guaranteed a North South final. And an All Black victory might not happen either, although we will be rooting for them all the way.

But regardless, today is the day to take off our hats to Richie McCaw and salute his individual brilliance and excellence in leadership.

McCaw’s brief speech at the end of tonight’s match was typically understated. The great captain first expressed his satisfaction about donning his 100th cap at Eden Park against the French in a world cup and beating them – it doesn’t come better than that. He then modestly gave credit to his team, personal supporters and the great New Zealand public and almost, it seemed, shed a tear as the plaudits rained down and the roar of the crowd reached a crescendo.

I leave the final words to a tribute to McCaw written just before the match (fittingly) on ‘Roar’ and will leave you to read the full article, ‘Arise, Sir Richie McCaw-100 Test matches’, on their website.

On Saturday night, at Eden Park, we’ll see something quite extraordinary.

Every person at the ground, every person around New Zealand watching on TVs in pubs and clubs and at home, and every rugby mad Kiwi around the world, will stand as one and acknowledge something very, very special.

For the first time in the history of the great game in New Zealand, we will finally see an All Black attaining the almost unheard of target of 100 Test matches.

31-year-old Richard Hugh McCaw will lead out the All Blacks in the Pool A decider against France and earn himself legendary status above and beyond all those before him.

Playing at open side flanker, he has continually put his body on the line in a position of absolute physical presence. His ability at the breakdown is still second to none and his willingness to ‘take one for the team’ has earned him the respect of his fellow teammates and the ire of opponents.

McCaw is continually targeted for the threat he is, and subsequently ends up on the receiving end of late tackles and more off the ball ‘gamesmanship’ than what others may endure.

Since his debut against Ireland in 2001, McCaw has been our first choice No. 7, and has been regarded as the best in his position for most of those years. Winning the IRB Player of the Year Award a record three times is proof of that.

100 Test matches – legendary stuff. If playing 100 Test matches and becoming the first All Black to do so, while also being the most capped All Black captain in history, isn’t enough to knight Richie McCaw, then winning a World Cup would guarantee it.

Arise, Sir Richie. We salute you.

Ireland victory makes North-South rugby world cup final look a near certainty

Ireland 15 Australia 6! What a turn up for the books! But the Ireland tight five out-muscled the Australians up front, starving them of ball so that their superior backline could not make any impact.

Both sides missed a number of kicks in a try-less Group C match fought at Auckland’s Eden Park but Ireland were worthy winners. And if Quade Cooper’s Spencer-esque pass to the opposition on full attack had resulted in a full-length of the field try to Tommy Bowe in the closing minutes (O’Connor cut him down at the corner flag) the margin could have been even more embarrassing.

The result means that we are heading towards a North-South knock-out quarter-final with Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina on one side of the draw and France, England, Wales and Ireland on the other.

On current form Scotland look unlikely to trouble Argentina or England, and given that England have already beaten the South Americans they are now set to top Group B. If as expected New Zealand beat France and South Africa and Wales win their remaining games against the minnows (a virtual certainty) then we are looking at NZ v ARG and RSA v AUS on one side of the draw and IRE v WAL and ENG v FRA on the other side.

Of these four you might reasonably conclude that New Zealand will beat Argentina (Argentina have never beaten the All Blacks who have home advantage) but the other three games are far too close to call.

And if Scotland are as woeful as they have looked so far (and therefore far behind the other six nations teams) and the IRE/AUS and RSA/WAL cliffhangers are an accurate indication of current form of the various sides then the gap between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres may be very small indeed.

A week ago most people would have predicted the three tri-nations teams to make the semis, but now it seems almost certain that the final will be between the best tri-nations team and the best six nations team – a North v South play off.

If there are no more major upsets then New Zealand should meet either South Africa or Australia in one semifinal but who will contest the other?

Ireland has never beaten the All Blacks, Wales hasn’t beaten them for 58 years and England has never beaten them at a world cup. France, however knocked them out in both 1999 and 2007, and Australia beat them in both the 1991 and 2003 semifinals. South Africa beat them in the 1995 final and 1999 play offs.

New Zealand is going to have to play very well if they are to repeat their 1987 home victory. Please boys don’t choke again.

Sometimes winning is not everything

It would have been a fairytale ending had the Canterbury Crusaders lifted the Super Fifteen rugby title at Sun Corp Stadium in Brisbane last night. After fighting their way in to the final after a year in which they played not one home game – the AMI stadium was destroyed in the Christchurch earthquake – beating the Queensland Reds at home in front of over 50,000 screaming Aussie fans would have been the icing on the cake.

But it was not to be. In a game strewn with turnovers, forced errors and rock solid defence on both sides the Reds held on for a historic victory by five points closing it out by 18-13. The Crusaders hopes were finally dashed by a brilliant 60 metre solo try by Reds halfback Will Genia.

Nail-biting stuff. We can lament the six lost lineouts, overcooked kicks to the opposition back three and silly penalties conceded, but all credit to the Reds for a fine win in a roller-coaster white-knuckle showdown between the best two teams this season.

We must not be ungracious. The Crusaders have won the super rugby title seven times already. This was the Reds first title and they have had a tough year too with over 40 dying in the Queensland floods. They thoroughly deserved it and it was a real joy to see lads from two rugby teams whose grounds had been destroyed in the flooding delivering the awards to both sides after the game.

For me the highlight was Crusaders and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw’s closing speech in which he gave credit to the opposition, credit to his own band of warriors and a tribute to the people of Christchurch who have endured so much.

‘It's been a tough year’ McCaw said, ‘but every time we have taken the field this year, hopefully we have done you proud back in Christchurch and put a smile on your face. I know it's been a tough time at home. We got ourselves in with a chance. We can hold our heads up high, and maybe next year.’

It was not the Crusaders best year, but I think it was their bravest. They finished as winners of the New Zealand Super Rugby Conference and qualified for the Super Rugby final after beating the Stormers in Cape Town.

In the course of the season they traveled more than 100,000 kilometers and played ‘home’ matches in locations in Nelson, Wellington, Timaru and London where we had the privilege of watching them in a flawless display against the Natal Sharks.

We say in New Zealand that rugby is not a matter of life and death - it’s far more important than that!

Maybe that’s true. But rather than feeling gutted today – as I did after the All Blacks ignominious exit from the World cup in 1999 – instead I felt a deep sense of pride. And I think I will remember the year the Crusaders came second with more satisfaction than any of the seven in which they lifted the trophy. I’m proud to be a Cantabrian. Well done lads!