# Danie Gerber

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.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players and considered by many as the greatest center of all time, Gerber's international career was severely limited because of South Africa's sporting isolation caused by apartheid. He won only 24 caps for South Africa (scoring 19 tries), despite playing internationally for 12 years. Despite this, he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007.

## Early life

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

## 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. 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, in the series, and scored three tries in the second Test. 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. | 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, 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, 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.
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.

## Legacy

Gerber has been described as one of the greatest ever rugby centres. He has been named South Africa's greatest ever centre, and Naas Botha has said he is one of the greatest ever South African rugby players. 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.

## Personal life

Gerber is married to Elsabe.
In 2002, he had heart surgery, and his family have a pattern of high cholesterol.