Eben was, of course, more prominent as an athlete in the hurdling events when he came to Stellenbosch and in fact, it was hurdling which made him such a dangerous centre three-quarter.

JC van der Westhuizen, the 1928 Springbok, used to say: "A man who comes to me in an upright position is not dangerous. I'll tackle him anyday. But a man who comes to me like a snake, head thrust forwardducking, weaving and swaying - well, that's another story; you don't know which part of him to concentrate on." Eben was like that.

Eben also ran with his arms in a bent position and in all these things lay his strength. Besides that he had speed and he could virtually hurdle his way over his opponents. When he left Stellenbosch he seemed to lose that particular ability and I had to remind him from time to time.

He eventually lost the ability altogether and it was such a great pity.

He was an outstanding centre, but he remained at his best for a tragically short period.

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