Brendan Gallagher recalls the great player he knew

Rarely, if ever, have the sporting gods given so abundantly before retracting their favours so suddenly and without sentiment.
To see Joost van der Westhuizen in full cry was to witness one of the greatest and most graceful athletes ever to take a rugby field with that ground-devouring stride that paved the way to 38 Test tries and a sinuous strength that belied his slim build. Eyes of a hawk and predatory instincts to match, he played on the edge on and off the field.
All of which made it desperately hard to meet him again in his wheelc...