Daan played on the wing for Northern Transvaal - very strong, very fast. Then he switched to forward. The big thing I remember about Daan was his honesty.

In 1955 South Africa were due to play the third test match in Pretoria against the Lions. Daan had suffered an injury and I had to test him out to see if he had recovered. Butch Lochner was the reserve and would take his place if Daan couldn't play; no replacements were allowed in those days.

I took him out to a practice field in Pretoria and to my mind he did everything normally. I told him I was happy with what I'd seen but he replied: "No, Doc - I'm just that one yard slower than I should be. I can't play; I would be doing the team an injustice."

I said: "You realise the test is at Loftus, in front of your home crowd?"

He replied: "Don't tell me, Doc. You know how I'm longing to play, but I must be honest. I'm not up to scratch." And that is how Butch Lochner played in his first test match - by virtue of Daan's honesty.

Today one finds that some players go on to the field knowing full well they shouldn't be there, but Daan Retief was a different kettle of fish altogether. Honest as the day is long, and a man of great integrity.