I didn't know R. R. Luyt very well, although I got to know his son Sir Richard Luyt, who was then chancellor of the University of Cape Town, many years later. I often saw R. R at a distance, but never spoke to him as he seemed to give the impression that he was rather aloof.

Many Springboks over the years have actually looked forbidding until one had the chance to speak to them; then the gentle side could come out. I'm not sure whether this quality is acquired to fend off too much public attention.

Many years later, when I had the opportunity of getting to know R. R a lot better, I found him to be a delightful but very firm personality, which in part goes to show why he was such a success as a player.