Former All Blacks scrumhalf Justin Marshall says Springbok legend Joost van der Westhuizen “could influence a game like no other player”.
On The Breakdown show, former All Blacks James Wilson, Mils Muliaina, Stephen Donald and Marshall picked out five iconic Boks ahead of Saturday’s Eden Park showdown.
The panel named lock Victor Matfield in top spot, followed by scrumhalf Van der Westhuizen, flank Schalk Burger, winger Bryan Habana and prop Os du Randt.
“If you’re wondering why there aren’t any of the current players, we just didn’t want to give them too much confidence going into the weekend,” Wilson joked, before giving nods to Eben Etzebeth and Cheslin Kolbe.
When Van der Westhuizen’s name came up, Marshall didn’t hesitate.
“At times, I wasn’t playing against the best nine in the world; I was possibly playing the best rugby player in the world,” he said. “He could influence a game like no other player. You think of a Richie McCaw – those types of players are very rare.
“Feel very lucky to have played against Joost, and he will never be forgotten in the way that he played and what he gave to the game.”
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The discussion then turned to other Bok greats.
“Bryan Habana, just a try-scoring machine,” Wilson said, with Muliaina adding: “He was just a lot of gas – influential not only on the field but also off it as a leader.”
Burger drew particular praise from both Wilson and Donald.
“Schalk Burger typified exactly the physicality you expect inside a Springbok,” Wilson said.
Donald added: “Physical but so abrasive. It just looked like he went, ‘Right, I’m going to do that as hard as I can and as physical as I can.’ By all accounts, he was terrible in the gym – how a man that strong and that physical, I don’t know. But one of the best off the field too.”
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Wilson rounded off the segment by tipping his cap to the wider Bok legacy.
“There have been so many great players, and there are so many in this current group who have already had such great careers. I’m looking forward to seeing them in action this weekend.”
Photo: Nigel Marple/Getty Images
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