At the centre of things with Danie Gerber

Being of an era that thrilled to the sublime skills of Danie Gerber, I wondered what the great centre would make of the human dodgem cars who people the midfield in today’s rugby.

Having watched British Lions Brian O’Driscoll and Rob Henderson find gaps in the Australian channel, where there are not meant to be any, and been perplexed at the standard of schoolboy back play from what I saw of the Craven Week it seemed a good time to call Gerber to “chat about the game.”

I had been meaning to ring him anyway to congratulate him on the performances of the Pumas – he is their backline coach – and get his thoughts on their promising young flyhalf Nel Fourie and the atrocious game between Western Province and Griquas on Sunday provided the spur.

Now Gerber might have been one of the strongest, fastest and most elusive rugby players I have seen, but he once gave me a fascinating insight into how he used to beat opponents before he got the ball.

And, like all the great sportsmen I have known, he might have radiated natural talent but his expertise came from hours of hard work and study. He was obviously blessed with exceptional God-given talents, but it was his passion for rugby that set him apart.

Gerber is exactly the kind of former player I believe should be involved with the Springboks and I was interested to know whether he could see a way through the midfield clutter.

And he can. Gerber believes the key problem is that “flatline rugby” has caused backlines to line up too shallow and that this has robbed them of momentum – this and an obsession with “taking out” players and setting up phases.

“If you look at what Brian O’Driscoll achieved for the Lions it comes down to pace,” he said. “All he does is come onto the ball at pace and this enables him to swerve or jink as he reaches potential tacklers and run at their arms. That is why he and Rob Henderson were able to break through strong tacklers like Daniel Herbert and Nathan Gray.

“Coming at speed gives you momentum and strength and all the advantages against defenders who are right up on the advantage line and quite static,” explained Gerber.

“One of the big problems that has crept into South African rugby is that players wait to get the ball into their hands before they start moving. They tend to take the ball standing still and as a result they are moving too slowly when confronted by a potential tackler.”

Gerber believes flatline defences are sitting ducks for three-quarters who are moving at pace before they receive the ball. “If you stand deeper and come up at pace to take the ball you cause so many more problems for defenders,” he points out. “If they come up fast to close you down they stand the risk of breaking up their lines, or being wrong-footed, and if they wait for you they are vulnerable to your swerve or side-step.

“I also look at the way sides defend with props and locks and think to myself how nice it would be to take on a slow-moving forward by feinting one way and going the other. A prop standing still can never hope to catch a back going quickly,” he emphasised.

Gerber adds that an additional benefit of taking the ball while already moving quickly is the extra range of a side-step, jink or swerve. “If you try to step off when moving slowly you might go one metre laterally, and still be tackled, but if you’re coming fast the movement is so much bigger,” he points out.

Gerber adds that the timing of the flyhalf is all-important in drawing his outside backs onto the ball. “Not only does this cause them to stretch out and hit the ball at pace, but it also has the effect of straightening the line. You know,” he adds, “this is not new stuff. It’s as old as the game… I just think we have forgotten about the basics and become too obsessed with grids, running lines and setting up phases.

“I’m not saying that these things don’t have their place, but I still think that the primary object of a backline player must be to beat his opponent or to contribute to one of his teammates beating an opponent.”

Gerber adds that he is often appalled at the lack of skills displayed by ranking centres. “In the end it comes down to practice, practice, practice. Take centre. How often do you see a centre playing for a big team who can’t pass properly with his weaker hand? It drives me mad to see an overlap developing only to have the centre crash in because he couldn’t make the wide pass to the outside.

“Side-steps, jinks, swerves, step-offs… grubbers and chip-kicks. You’ve got to be able to do them all and do them under pressure and if you can’t you don’t belong in the side!” he exclaims.

What were the words I used earlier? Passion? Commitment? Determination? Talent? Confidence? Every time I talk to Danie Gerber I wish some of the current Springbok backline players were part of the conversation. I know it would do them good.<