Joost van der Westhuizen, the former South Africa captain, remains in a critical condition in hospital with motor neuron disease (MND) which has been battling for seven years.
Van der Westhuizen, widely regarded as one of the greatest ever scrum-halves and an integral member of South Africa's 1995 World Cup victory, was admitted to a Johannesburg hospital on Saturday.
![Joost Van der Westhuizen is in a critical condition.](/web/20170206114417im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/6/4/o/d/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gu64ms.png/1486335674314.jpg)
His J9 Foundation, dedicated to helping other MND suffers, released a statement on Sunday saying: "Joost remains in ICU in a critical but stable condition. He is responding well to his loved ones and putting up an incredible fight. He really is our Superman!"
Another report from South Africa suggested that he is showing signs of improvement with a J9 Foundation spokesperson telling a reporter that "Joost has been much better today, however he is tired and been resting this afternoon."
![Joost Van Der Westhuizen against Wales in 2000.](/web/20170206114417im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/6/4/q/g/image.related.articleLeadNarrow.300x0.gu64ms.png/1486335674314.jpg)
On Saturday, the foundation had called for prayers for Van der Wetshuizen and his former South Africa teammate Hennie le Roux told the press that he "was being kept alive on machines" and that it "doesn't look good for Joost."
He had experienced problems with his breathing in recent months which forced him to utilise an oxygen tank. There is no cure to MND, which attacks the nervous system.
Van der Westhuizen remains one of South Africa's sporting icons. He won 89 caps between 1993 and 2003, scoring 38 tries. 1.85m, he became the prototype for a new modern breed of scrum-half who could threaten teams with physicality as well as his pace.
His aggression and bravery was staggering. That was best exemplified in the 1995 World Cup final against New Zealand when he tackled a charging Jonah Lomu, who until that point has been considered unstoppable, 22 metres from the try line. It was a defining moment in probably the most storied of all rugby matches.
It may be a tragic consequence of his willingness to put his body on the line that he developed MND. The link between repeated concussions and the development of neuro-degenerative diseases is well established, although he has never betrayed any bitterness towards rugby.
Instead, he has thrown himself into raising awareness and funds for his foundation with the same gusto he used to throw himself into tackles. Three years ago he gave an interview to The Telegraph, London's Paul Hayward in which his fighting spirit shone through.
"I had a choice. Either I stay at home and die, or I live my life," he said. "I have a platform and now I'm using it to help with MND. They [the doctors] are going to tell them they have two to five years [to live] – and that's bull****. You live as long as you want, as long as you are positive. They told me 24 months. I'm now on 50."
The Telegraph, London