What I remember most about Jimmy was his confidence and determination. On board ship travelling to the UK in 1931, I came across him leaning against the rails.

I asked him what he was thinking about. He turned to me and said: "You know, Danie - I'm very happy to be a Bok. But its not enough: to be a real Springbok you have to play in a test match and I won't be satisfied until I've played in one." He did, playing against Wales on that tour and in a further nine tests as well.

Jimmy was a very determined man - but never in an obnoxious way. On the 1937 tour to Australia and New Zealand, when we played the first test against Australia I recall Jimmy repeatedly muttering to himself: "I'll play him into the ground." He was referring to Towers, the Australian captain and his opposite number at centre.

He imbued us all with his infectious competitiveness. He certainly played Towers into the ground. That was Jimmy - all determination and confidence.