Ireland team lauded for classy gesture towards Springbok legend

The Ireland rugby team are making a real impression on the South African media on their tour of the Rainbow Nation.

The entire Ireland squad showed for a fundraising night for Joost Van der Westhuizen's J9 Foundation in Montecasino the other night and host Dan Nicholl was completely blown away by their gesture.

Former Springbok Van de Westhuizen played a pivotal role in his country's 1995 World Cup victory and is considered to be one of the greatest to ever play the game. Despite being confined to a wheelchair and unable to speak, the legendary rugby player has continued to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Motor Neuron disease. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/646295160033255424 In a piece for Vodacomrugby, Nicholl praised Ireland for turning out. He explained that they had no obligation to attend, but their presence showed the true character of the team.

"There was no sense of obligation to Ireland’s collective appearance at Tuesday’s dinner: this was a group of rugby players simply wanting to show one of their own that they were there for him, and that they had his back." "Professional sport has little time for sentiment, and yet here was a team of professionals saluting a man held in immense esteem, both for his stellar career, and for the work he’s done in recent years, pouring the last of his diminishing strength into creating hope for others."

He added that their attendance was particularly powerful considering it came just days after their first ever win on South African soil and ahead of their next test against the Springboks on Saturday.

"At its most basic level, rugby is an act of camaraderie, and Rory Best’s team illustrated that superbly. Newlands was triumph for Irish rugby, but Tuesday night defined who they are as a team, and why we should celebrate that, no matter what jersey we wear this weekend."