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.
Birth name | Daniël Mattheus Gerber | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | 14 April 1958 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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]
Gerber initially played football and cricket at school level, but accelerated quickly when starting rugby, playing for SA schools.[4]
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:
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,[8] a very high strike rate for a centre.
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]
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]
Gerber is married to Elsabe.
In 2002, he had heart surgery, and his family have a pattern of high cholesterol.[21]
http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/9270.html