Danie Gerber (original) (raw)
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South African rugby union player
Rugby player
Danie Gerber
| Born | Daniël Mattheus Gerber (1958-04-14) 14 April 1958 (age 67)Port Elizabeth, Cape Province Union of South Africa (now Eastern Cape) |
|---|---|
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) |
| Weight | 91 kg (201 lb) |
| Rugby union career | |
| Position CentreProvincial / State sidesYears Team Apps (Points) Eastern Province115 - Western Province40 - Free State24 Correct as of 2007-10-31International careerYears Team Apps **(Points)**1980–1992 South Africa24(82) Correct as of 2007-10-31 |
Daniël Mattheus Gerber (born 14 April 1958) is a South African former rugby union player who played for South Africa between 1980 and 1992. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players ever and considered by many as the greatest center of all time, he played mainly at inside or outside centre, but also on the wing.
Gerber etched his name into rugby folklore by scoring 19 test tries in 24 appearances for South Africa. His try-scoring ratio per game for South Africa is the highest ever (79.16%). Gerber was the blueprint of Springbok rugby in the 1980s and he is still regarded by many to be the greatest Springbok player ever. In 1981 he scored a brilliant individual try against Ireland; his incredible agility and footwork caused 2 Irish players to tackle each other. In 1984 he scored a hat-trick of tries against England and in 1992 he scored 2 famous tries against New Zealand. In total, Gerber scored an incredible 158 tries in first-class rugby. Despite limited exposure due to apartheid-era isolation, his impact on the game and talent was considered and still today, way ahead of his time.[1]) He was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007.[2]
Gerber initially played football and cricket at school level, but accelerated quickly when starting rugby, playing for SA schools. He said in multiple interviews that he got his incredible footwork and ball control abilities from his early childhood, when he played football with other kids in Despatch. One of his school teachers recognized his abilities and got him into rugby.[3]
In South African domestic rugby Gerber played 115 games for Eastern Province, 40 for Western Province and 24 for Orange Free State.
Gerber's international career of games played and points scored:
- In 1980, he played two tests against the South American Jaguars (a team mainly made up of Argentine players but also included a few Uruguayan, Chilean, Paraguayan and Brazilian players) in Montevideo and Santiago.[4] He scored a try in each test. He also played one test against France in Pretoria without scoring any points, and one other test that year.
- In 1981, he played two tests against Ireland in Cape Town (scoring two tries) and in Durban without scoring points. He also went on the controversial 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand, playing in all three tests, (Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland) without scoring any points. The infamous tour was lost by the Springboks due to a controversial penalty by the referee four minutes into injury time in the final test. (Ray Mordt scored three tries in the final test of the series.) He also played the final test of 1981 against the USA in Glenville, without scoring any points.
- In 1982, he played two tests against the South American Jaguars (again, mainly made up of Argentine players but also included a few Uruguayan, Chilean, Paraguayan and Brazilian players) scoring three tries in Pretoria and one in Bloemfontein.
- In 1984, he played two tests against England, scoring one try in his hometown, Port Elizabeth and three in Johannesburg. In this series, Gerber played outside South Africa's first ever Black player, Errol Tobias,[5] in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test.[6] Again the South American Jaguars toured South Africa and Gerber scored one try and one conversion in Pretoria and one try in Cape Town.
- In 1986, the New Zealand Cavaliers (a rebel tour conducted against the wishes of the NZ Rugby Union) toured South Africa, Gerber played in all four 'test' fixtures in Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg and only managed one try in the Pretoria game.
- In 1992, after a long period of South African rugby isolation, Gerber played his final five test matches vs: New Zealand in Johannesburg scoring two tries, Australia in Cape Town without scoring any points, France in Lyon and Parc des Princes scoring one try in each match. His final test was against England in Twickenham which went without scoring any points.
| No. | Opposition | Result (SA 1st) | Position | Points | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  South American Jaguars |
22–13 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 18 October 1980 | Wanderers Club, Montevideo |
| 2. | South American Jaguars |
30–16 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 25 October 1980 | Prince of Wales Cricket Club, Santiago |
| 3. |  France |
37–15 | Centre | 8 November 1980 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria | |
| 4. |  Ireland |
23–15 | Centre | 8 (2 tries) | 30 May 1981 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 5. | Ireland |
12–10 | Centre | 6 June 1981 | Kings Park, Durban | |
| 6. |  New Zealand |
9–14 | Centre | 15 August 1981 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch | |
| 7. | New Zealand |
24–12 | Centre | 29 August 1981 | Athletic Park, Wellington | |
| 8. | New Zealand |
22–25 | Centre | 12 September 1981 | Eden Park, Auckland | |
| 9. |  United States |
38–7 | Centre | 20 September 1981 | Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York | |
| 10. | South American Jaguars |
50–18 | Centre | 12 (3 tries) | 27 March 1982 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 11. | South American Jaguars |
12–21 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 3 April 1982 | Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein |
| 12. |  England |
33 - 15 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 2 June 1984 | Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth |
| 13. | England |
35 - 9 | Centre | 12 (3 tries) | 9 June 1984 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 14. | South American Jaguars |
32–15 | Centre | 6 (1 try, 1 conv.) | 20 October 1984 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 15. | South American Jaguars |
21–13 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 27 October 1984 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 16. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 21–15 | Centre | 10 May 1986 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
| 17. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 18–19 | Centre | 17 May 1986 | Kings Park, Durban | |
| 18. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 33–18 | Centre | 4 (1 try) | 24 May 1986 | Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria |
| 19. | New Zealand Cavaliers | 24–10 | Centre | 31 May 1986 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg | |
| 20. | New Zealand |
24–27 | Centre | 10 (2 tries) | 15 August 1992 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| 21. |  Australia |
3–26 | Centre | 22 August 1992 | Newlands, Cape Town | |
| 22. | France |
20–15 | Centre | 5 (1 try) | 17 October 1992 | Stade de Gerland, Lyon |
| 23. | France |
16–29 | Centre | 5 (1 try) | 24 October 1992 | Parc des Princes, Paris |
| 24. | England |
16–33 | Centre | 14 November 1992 | Twickenham, London |
Gerber scored 19 tries in 24 internationals,[7] a very high strike rate for a centre.
Gerber had very high acceleration and pace, could sidestep off either foot, break tackles,[8] had a clear vision of space on the field, and high ball skill levels (catching, passing and kicking). He was also very solid in defence.[9]
Gerber attributed his sidestep to his early football. He trained extensively (particularly running, but also swimming, circuit training and weights) and had a high fitness level, which were unusual attributes before rugby went professional.[10][11]
Gerber has been described as one of the greatest ever rugby players and considered by many as the greatest center in the history of the game. Many former and current players admire Gerber's impact on the game and the legacy he left behind. Jean de Villiers former Springboks captain described Gerber as his childhood hero and the best player South Africa has ever produced. Former legendary Scottish commentator Bill McLaren regarded Gerber as the greatest center the world has ever seen.[12][13] He has been named South Africa's greatest ever centre,[14][15] and Naas Botha has said he is one of the greatest ever South African rugby players.[16] Martin Johnson named him in his International Rugby Hall of Fame member's XV, and Bill McLaren's named him in his 'all time' XV.[17][18][19]
Gerber is married to Elsabe.
In 2002, he had heart surgery, and his family have a pattern of high cholesterol.[20]
- List of South Africa national rugby union players – Springbok no. 514
- SA Rugby Player of the Year - 1984
- ^ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Daniel Gerber". rugbyhalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Danie Gerber". scrum.com. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ Struthers, Greg (3 June 2007). "Caught in time". London: The Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ Hewett, Chris (27 May 2007). "England the sick men of Africa". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2007. [_dead link_]
- ^ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Daniel Mattheus Gerber".
- ^ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Daniel Mattheus Gerber".
- ^ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
- ^ "Great Springbok Tries Series: Danie Gerber vs the All Blacks".
- ^ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
- ^ "Selecting the Greatest All-Time South Africa XV". Bleacher Report.
- ^ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
- ^ XV refers to the fifteen players on a rugby team.
- ^ "Martin Johnson's all-time XV". London: The Times. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ "Bill McLaren's World XV". bbc.co.uk. 5 March 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
- ^ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube. Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.