Danie Gerber

Danie Gerber
Birth name Danie Gerber
Date of birth 1958-04-14
Place of birth Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Centre
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
Correct as of 2007-10-31
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1980–1992 South Africa 24 (82)
Correct as of 2007-10-31

Danie Gerber (born 14 April 1958 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) is a former South African rugby union player, who played for South Africa between 1980 and 1992. Playing mainly at centre, he won only 24 caps for South Africa despite playing internationally for 12 years because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid.[1] He did however play 115 games for Eastern Province, 40 for Western Province and 24 for Orange Free State in South African domestic rugby. In 2007 he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.[2]

His first international was against the South American Jaguars in 1980, where Gerber scored a try.[3] He played another two matches that year, and in 1981 played Ireland twice before touring to New Zealand. He played all three Tests against the All Blacks on the 1981 Springbok Tour, and a Test in the United States following the tour. As well as playing the Jaguars four times over the next two years, he also starred in the 1984 England tour to South Africa. Gerber played outside South Africa's first ever Black player, Errol Tobias,[4] in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test.[5]

International

Gerber's 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 and scored a try in each test and one test against France in Pretoria without scoring any points.

In 1981 he played two tests against Ireland in Cape Town (scoring two tries) and in Durban without scoring points. He also played in all three tests, (Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland) without scoring any points, of the infamous protestor tour of New Zealand during 1981 which 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.) The final test of 1981 was played against the USA in Glenville, without scoring any points.

During 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. 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.

After a long period of isolation in 1992 he 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 on Twickenham which went without scoring any points.

Number of tests per country, Tries, Conversion: South American Jaguars (mainly made up of Argentine players but also included a few Uruguayan, Chilean, Paraguayan and Brazilian players) 6 Tests, 8 Tries,1 conversion. France 3 tests, 2 Tries. Ireland 2 Tests, 2 Tries. New Zealand 4 Tests, 2 Tries. New Zealand Cavaliers 4 Tests, 1 Try. USA 1 Test, 0 Tries. England 3 Tests, 4 Tries. Australia 1 Test, 0 Tries

Gerber has been named in both International Rugby Hall of Fame member's Martin Johnson and Bill McLaren's all time XV.[6][7][8]

References

  1. ↑ Knowler, Richard (16 April 2005). "GERBER LAMENTS POACHING AND POLITICS". The Press. p. 2.
  2. ↑ "Daniel Gerber". rugbyhalloffame.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  3. ↑ "Danie Gerber". scrum.com. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  4. ↑ Struthers, Greg (3 June 2007). "Caught in time". London: timesonline.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  5. ↑ Hewett, Chris (27 May 2007). "England the sick men of Africa". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  6. ↑ XV refers to the fifteen players on a rugby team.
  7. ↑ "Martin Johnson's all-time XV". London: timesonline.co.uk. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 31 October 2007.
  8. ↑ "Bill McLaren's World XV". bbc.co.uk. 5 March 2002. Retrieved 31 October 2007.

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