Danie Gerber

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Danie Gerber
Birth nameDaniël Mattheus Gerber
Date of birth (1958-04-14) 14 April 1958 (age 66)
Place of birth Port Elizabeth, Cape Province Union of South Africa (now Eastern Cape)
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight91 kg (201 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
Eastern Province 115 ()
- Western Province 40 ()
- Free State 24 ()
Correct as of 2007-10-31
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1980–1992 South Africa 24 (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. He played mainly at inside or outside centre, but also on the wing.

Contents

His international career was severely limited because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid. [1] He won only 24 caps for South Africa (scoring 19 tries [2] ), despite playing internationally for 12 years. Despite this, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007. [3]

Early life

Gerber initially played football and cricket at school level, but accelerated quickly when starting rugby, playing for SA schools. [4]

Rugby career

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:

Test history

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionPointsDateVenue
1. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars 22–13 Centre 4 (1 try)18 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
2. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars30–16Centre4 (1 try)25 October 1980Prince of Wales Cricket Club, Santiago
3.Flag of France.svg  France 37–15Centre8 November 1980 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4.IRFU flag.svg  Ireland 23–15Centre8 (2 tries)30 May 1981 Newlands, Cape Town
5. IRFU flag.svg Ireland12–10Centre6 June 1981 Kings Park, Durban
6.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 9–14Centre15 August 1981 Lancaster Park, Christchurch
7. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand24–12Centre29 August 1981 Athletic Park, Wellington
8. Flag of New Zealand.svg New Zealand22–25Centre12 September 1981 Eden Park, Auckland
9.Flag of the United States.svg  United States 38–7Centre20 September 1981Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York
10. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars50–18Centre12 (3 tries)27 March 1982Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
11. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars12–21Centre4 (1 try)3 April 1982Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
12.Flag of England.svg  England 33 - 15 Centre 4 (1 try)2 June 1984 Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
13. Flag of England.svg England35 - 9Centre12 (3 tries)9 June 1984 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
14. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars32–15Centre6 (1 try, 1 conv.)20 October 1984Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
15. Flag sudamerica xv 1980.jpg South American Jaguars21–13Centre4 (1 try)27 October 1984Newlands, Cape Town
16. New Zealand Cavaliers 21–15Centre10 May 1986Newlands, Cape Town
17.New Zealand Cavaliers18–19Centre17 May 1986Kings Park, Durban
18.New Zealand Cavaliers33–18Centre4 (1 try)24 May 1986Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
19.New Zealand Cavaliers24–10Centre31 May 1986Ellis Park, Johannesburg
20.Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 24–27Centre10 (2 tries) 15 August 1992 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
21.Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3–26Centre22 August 1992Newlands, Cape Town
22.Flag of France.svg  France 20–15Centre5 (1 try)17 October 1992 Stade de Gerland, Lyon
23. Flag of France.svg France16–29Centre5 (1 try)24 October 1992 Parc des Princes, Paris
24. Flag of England.svg England16–33Centre14 November 1992 Twickenham, London

Gerber scored 19 tries in 24 internationals, [8] a very high strike rate for a centre.

Style of play

Gerber had very high acceleration and pace, could sidestep off either foot, break tackles, [9] 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. [10]

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. [11] [12]

Legacy

Gerber has been described as one of the greatest ever rugby centres. [13] [14] He has been named South Africa's greatest ever centre, [15] [16] and Naas Botha has said he is one of the greatest ever South African rugby players. [17] 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. [18] [19] [20]

Personal life

Gerber is married to Elsabe.

In 2002, he had heart surgery, and his family have a pattern of high cholesterol. [21]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Knowler, Richard (16 April 2005). "GERBER LAMENTS POACHING AND POLITICS". The Press. p. 2.
  2. ↑ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
  3. ↑ "Daniel Gerber". rugbyhalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  4. ↑ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube . Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "Danie Gerber". scrum.com. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  6. ↑ Struthers, Greg (3 June 2007). "Caught in time". London: The Times. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  7. ↑ Hewett, Chris (27 May 2007). "England the sick men of Africa". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2007.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
  9. ↑ "Daniel Mattheus Gerber".
  10. ↑ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube . Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.
  11. ↑ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Daniel Mattheus Gerber".
  13. ↑ "The greatest centres of all time: Danie Gerber". 18 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "Great Springbok Tries Series: Danie Gerber vs the All Blacks".
  15. ↑ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Selecting the Greatest All-Time South Africa XV". Bleacher Report .
  17. ↑ "Rugby history top 10: The greatest centres of all time as O'Driscoll and Sella fight for top spot". 29 November 2017.
  18. ↑ XV refers to the fifteen players on a rugby team.
  19. ↑ "Martin Johnson's all-time XV". London: The Times. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  20. ↑ "Bill McLaren's World XV". bbc.co.uk. 5 March 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  21. ↑ In Conversation with Danie Gerber. YouTube . Archived from the original on 11 December 2021.

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