Danie Gerber
Birth nameDaniël Mattheus Gerber
Date of birth (1958-04-14) 14 April 1958
Place of birthPort 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
Years Team Apps (Points)
Eastern Province
Western Province
Free State
115
40
24
()
Correct as of 2007-10-31
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
19801992 South Africa 24 (82)
Correct as of 2007-10-31

Danie Gerber (born 14 April 1958 in Port Elizabeth, Union of South Africa) is a former South African 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.

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. However despite this, in 2007 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.[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:

  • 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.[5] 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,[6] in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test.[7] 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.

Test history

No.OppositionResult (SA 1st)PositionPointsDateVenue
1. South American Jaguars22–13Centre4 (1 try)18 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
2. South American Jaguars30–16Centre4 (1 try)25 October 1980Prince of Wales Cricket Club, Santiago
3. France37–15Centre8 November 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4. Ireland23–15Centre8 (2 tries)30 May 1981Newlands, Cape Town
5.Ireland Ireland12–10Centre6 June 1981Kings Park, Durban
6. New Zealand9–14Centre15 August 1981Lancaster Park, Christchurch
7.New Zealand New Zealand24–12Centre29 August 1981Athletic Park, Wellington
8.New Zealand New Zealand22–25Centre12 September 1981Eden Park, Auckland
9. United States38–7Centre20 September 1981Owl Creek Polo ground, Glenville, New York
10. South American Jaguars50–18Centre12 (3 tries)27 March 1982Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
11. South American Jaguars12–21Centre4 (1 try)3 April 1982Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
12. England33 - 15Centre4 (1 try)2 June 1984Boet Erasmus Stadium, Port Elizabeth
13.England England35 - 9Centre12 (3 tries)9 June 1984Ellis Park, Johannesburg
14. South American Jaguars32–15Centre6 (1 try, 1 conv.)20 October 1984Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
15. South American Jaguars21–13Centre4 (1 try)27 October 1984Newlands, Cape Town
16.New Zealand Cavaliers21–15Centre10 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. New Zealand24–27Centre10 (2 tries)15 August 1992Ellis Park, Johannesburg
21. Australia3–26Centre22 August 1992Newlands, Cape Town
22. France20–15Centre5 (1 try)17 October 1992Stade de Gerland, Lyon
23.France France16–29Centre5 (1 try)24 October 1992Parc des Princes, Paris
24.England England16–33Centre14 November 1992Twickenham, 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

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: timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  7. Hewett, Chris (27 May 2007). "England the sick men of Africa". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  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: timesonline.co.uk. 2 August 2007. 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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