Danie Gerber


Daniël Mattheus Gerber is a South African former rugby union player who played for South Africa between 1980 and 1992. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rugby players ever and considered by many as the greatest center of all time, he played mainly at inside or outside centre, but also on the wing.
Gerber etched his name into rugby folklore by scoring 158 tries in 261 games in first-class rugby. It's the highest ever strike rate for a centre. For South Africa he scored an incredible 19 test tries in 24 appearances. It's the highest ever try-scoring ratio per game for a centre 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. He said in multiple interviews that he got his incredible footwork and ball control abilities from his early childhood, when he played football with other kids in Despatch. One of his school teachers recognized his abilities and got him into rugby.

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 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 and in Durban without scoring points. He also went on the controversial 1981 Springbok Tour of New Zealand, playing in all three tests, 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. 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 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 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 PositionPointsDateVenue
1. South American Jaguars22–13Centre4 18 October 1980Wanderers Club, Montevideo
2. South American Jaguars30–16Centre4 25 October 1980Prince of Wales Cricket Club, Santiago
3.37–15Centre8 November 1980Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4.23–15Centre8 30 May 1981Newlands, Cape Town
5.|rugby unionru|NZL

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. He was also very solid in defence.
Gerber attributed his sidestep to his early football. He trained extensively 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 players and considered by many as the greatest center in the history of the game. Many former and current players admire Gerber's impact on the game and the legacy he left behind. Jean de Villiers former Springboks captain described Gerber as his childhood hero and the best player South Africa has ever produced. Former legendary Scottish commentator Bill McLaren regarded Gerber as the greatest center the world has ever seen. 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.