Joost only followed orders
Hennie Brandt, Beeld
Johannesburg - He only did what he was told to do, says Joost van der Westhuizen, who called up the wrong captain to receive the Freedom Cup after the Tri-Nations rugby match at Rustenburg at the weekend.
The former Springbok captain, who also does television work these days, has been in the spotlight since South Africa beat New Zealand 21-20 last Saturday.
As one of SuperSport's commentators, Van der Westhuizen, had to interview the captains, John Smit and Richie McCaw, after the match.
He also had to hand over the Freedom Cup, a trophy for which South Africa and New Zealand compete every second year, to All Black captain McCaw because New Zealand had won two of the three matches this year.
However, in the confusion Van der Westhuizen presented the cup to Smit, leaving SA Rugby administrators red-faced.
Afterwards, it was even said Van der Westhuizen had been so overjoyed after South Africa's victory that he wrongly handed the trophy to the Springbok captain.
"I only did what I was told to do," Van der Westhuizen responded to questions about the incident.
After the match, having completed his commentating duties, he had to go out on the field for the usual post-match ceremonies.
To make matters worse, there were problems with the communication between him and the TV director and he had no script in his hands.
He knew he had to interview the captains, announce the name of the man of the match (Pierre Spies) and interview him as well.
He then heard through his earpiece that King Leruo Molotlegi of the Bafokeng tribe had to present the Freedom Cup to Smit and responded accordingly.
Anne-Lee Murray of the Springboks liaison team, afterwards told Van der Westhuizen the cup had been presented to the wrong captain.
"I said to her I only did what I was told to do," said Van der Westhuizen on Thursday.
News source: www.news24.co.za
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