Danie Gerber
| Full 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 | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Centre | ||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| Eastern Province Western Province Free State |
115 40 24 |
||
| correct as of 2007-10-31. | |||
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (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 Free State in South African domestic rugby. In 2007 he was induced 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 played 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]
Gerber's career of games played and Points scored:
In 1980 he played two tests against the South American Jaguars (now known as Argentina) 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 (Argentina), 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 (Argentina) 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 against the wishes of the NZ Rugby Union) toured South Africa, Gerber played in all four tests 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 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 test per country, Tries, Conversion: South American Jaguars (Argentina)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
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- ↑ XV refers to the fifteen players on a rugby team.
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