Danie Gerber suffered in sporting isolation, but was rugby’s greatest centre

It would be easy to write that one of rugby’s biggest disappointments was the absence of Danie Gerber from international rugby during South Africa’s isolation period.

The isolation, which was a consequence of apartheid, kept Gerber off rugby’s biggest stage from 1986 to 1992. Gerber achieved a high strike rate o 19 tries in his twenty-four internationals, commencing in 1980. In his limited Tests he established himself as the best centre in international rugby.

Gerber played centre, wing and inside centre. In my favourites team I have picked him as an inside centre to play alongside Philippe Sella, what a combination! After viewing Gerber’s highlights reel, I have to say he is the most powerful, exhilarating and elusive centres I have seen.

Many view it as frustrating that he only played twenty-four Tests, but as with many things in life we have to be grateful for what we have received and treasure each and every moment. Gerber should be proud of some of the most exciting rugby that we are thankful to have seen, even though it was brief.

Daniel Mattheus Gerber was born 1958 in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, and played football and cricket at school, also representing South African schools in rugby. His football training provided the foundation for him to be able to sidestep off either foot, which was never better illustrated in the try he scored against Ireland in 1981. He received the ball on their 10m line, looked to kick then went on a searching journey past Irish defenders including two who were so flummoxed by Gerber’s sidesteps that they ended up tackling each other.

Gerber was a precocious talent for Eastern Province and ended up playing 115 times for the state. His Test debut came against South America at age twenty-two, but it was his play against England in 1984 that defined him. His devastating footwork, strong defence and pace were too much for the Englishmen.

Gerber had a professional player’s mentality when it came to training and he included long distance running, swimming, weights and circuit training to build up his fitness and physique. If you watch videos of him he deceptively looks rather stocky with those enormous thighs, but he was six foot tall and would have been difficult to defend against. He had the deft ability to leave a defender floundering with his sidestep but could also power his way through a tackle.

After South Africa were isolated a rebel New Zealand team, the Cavaliers toured South Africa and it gave Danie Gerber an opportunity to showcase his talents. His try in the third match highlighting his electrifying pace.

South Africa came out of isolation in 1992 with a highly anticipated match against the All Blacks, which reminded everyone why they held the greatest rivalry in world rugby. The New Zealand team were talented with players including Zinzan Brooke, Michael Jones and John Kirwan and they proved too strong for the inexperienced Springboks, overcoming them 27 to 24. However, Gerber was at his mercurial best, scoring two tries.

Danie Gerber retired from rugby in 1992 after losing to England and he was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 2007, a consolation for not performing in what could have been over one hundred Tests. That is one regret he had and also missing the two Rugby World Cups in 1987 and 1991.

Gerber was described by Dr Cecil Moss, South African coach, as “a freak in terms of physical ability” and former Springbok Morne du Plessis summed him up as being “a real Springbok who had a love for running.” Bill McLaren, legendary commentator included him in his “all time XV.”

In 2002 Danie Gerber had heart surgery with his family having a history of high cholesterol, he worked as an ambassador for heart disease awareness.

One thing I noticed about Gerber is that he frequently went in at the corner for a try, pretended to press the ball, then immediately carried on to score under the posts, it is sometimes what you do behind the try-line that defines you, think Carlos Spencer and Bryan Williams.

I must be honest and say I did not know a lot about Danie Gerber, but now after further research I realise he was an exceptional talent whose array of skills were simply world class and he must rank as South Africa’s greatest centre and arguably the best the world has seen.

Danie Gerber, a favourite international player.