Gerry Brand: Difference between revisions
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Brand was appointed captain of the Western Province team in [[1932]]. During 1933 he played in all five tests against the visiting [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] of [[1933]].<ref name=espn></ref> |
Brand was appointed captain of the Western Province team in [[1932]]. During 1933 he played in all five tests against the visiting [[Australia national rugby union team|Wallabies]] of [[1933]].<ref name=espn></ref> |
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He was part of the [[1937]] Springbok tour to [[Australasia]], during which he |
He was part of the [[1937]] Springbok tour to [[Australasia]], during which he set a record of 90 points in seven matches and another of 209 points in all.<ref name=Joost>{{cite web|title=Joost se 10 drieë is Bok-rekord Ruben, Robert spog elk met nege [Joost's 10 tries are Bok-record - Ruben, Robert boasts with 9 each]|urlhttp://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1993/08/12/18/1.html|publisher=Beeld}}</ref> |
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The team lost only two matches and was regarded as the unofficial world rugby champions.<ref name=Thomas>{{cite book|last=Thomas|first=Clem|title=125 Years of the British and Irish Lions: The Official History|year=2013|publisher=Mainstream Publishing|location=Edinburgh & London|isbn=978-1780576022}}</ref> |
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On their [[1938]] tour to [[South-Africa]] the [[British and Irish Lions]] encountered Brand in three defeats. He captained the Western Province Town and Country XV which handed the Lions their first defeat on tour. Brand's wide-angled kick during the dying minutes of the game propelled his team to an 11-8 victory. At Cape Town's [[Newlands Stadium]] Brand led the Western Province to a 21-11 triumph to which he contributed nine points.<ref name=Thomas></ref> |
On their [[1938]] tour to [[South-Africa]] the [[British and Irish Lions]] encountered Brand in three defeats. He captained the Western Province Town and Country XV which handed the Lions their first defeat on tour. Brand's wide-angled kick during the dying minutes of the game propelled his team to an 11-8 victory. At Cape Town's [[Newlands Stadium]] Brand led the Western Province to a 21-11 triumph to which he contributed nine points.<ref name=Thomas></ref> |
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His name was among the first listed for the Springboks for the first test at [[Ellis Park Stadium]] in [[Johannesburg]]. A record crowd of 36,000 saw how Brand kicked 14 points (4 conversions and 2 penalties)in the Springboks' 26-12 defeat of the Lions. This would prove to be his last outing in the international arena, as he was injured during preparations for the second test.<ref name=Thomas></ref> |
His name was among the first listed for the Springboks for the first test at [[Ellis Park Stadium]] in [[Johannesburg]]. A record crowd of 36,000 saw how Brand kicked 14 points (4 conversions and 2 penalties)in the Springboks' 26-12 defeat of the Lions. This would prove to be his last outing in the international arena, as he was injured during preparations for the second test.<ref name=Thomas></ref> In all he turned out in 46 matches for the Springboks, scoring 293 points - a record only surpassed by the Springbok fly-half [[Naas Botha]].<ref name=verbeter>{{cite web|title= Botha en Gerber verbeter hul rekords [Botha and Gerber improve their records|url=http://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1992/08/17/16/3.html|publisher=Beeld}}</ref> |
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In [[1946]] Brand played once more for the Western Province, but retired afterwards. |
In [[1946]] Brand played once more for the Western Province, but retired afterwards. |
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Revision as of 19:19, 13 December 2013
| Birth name | Gerhard Hamilton Brand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1906-10-08 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 1996-02-4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Cape Town, South Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 73.9 kg (163 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Sea Point Boys High School, Cape Town | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Estate agent, Businessman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gerhard Hamilton Brand (8 October 1906 - 4 February 1996) was a Springbok rugby union footballer who played in 16 tests between 1928 en 1938. Brand has been described as the best kicker of his era,[1] as well as a "magnificent defensive player" with a "wonderful tackle".[2] [3] According to Guinness World Records he executed the longest drop goal in rugby union to date.[1] [4]
Early life
Brand was born and grew up in Sea Point, Cape Town, where he attended Sea Point Boys High School. As a young man he played scrum-half for Hamiltons Rugby Club in Sea Point.[3] He was an introvert, according to his friend, Danie Craven.[5]
Rugby career
Brand was first selected to play for Western Province in 1927, the year that his team won the Currie Cup championships.[3]
In 1928 Brand made his debut for the Springboks on the wing against New Zealand, and played in two tests that year.[2]
Brand was also selected for Bennie Osler's Springbok touring party to the United Kingdom and Ireland in 1931-32.[2] He played in 18 of the 26 tour matches, scoring 72 points in total. In the test against England on 2 January 1932 Brand caught the ball close to the halfway line and against the touch line. Steadying himself, he calmly dropped a goal which traveled 77.7 m (254 ft 11 in) from point of impact to where it landed in the stands. The kick was the highlight of an otherwise dour match and helped Brand's team to a 7-0 victory.[1] His drop goal was later described as "probably the best drop goal ever seen at Twickenham".[4]
Brand was appointed captain of the Western Province team in 1932. During 1933 he played in all five tests against the visiting Wallabies of 1933.[2]
He was part of the 1937 Springbok tour to Australasia, during which he set a record of 90 points in seven matches and another of 209 points in all.[6]
The team lost only two matches and was regarded as the unofficial world rugby champions.[7]
On their 1938 tour to South-Africa the British and Irish Lions encountered Brand in three defeats. He captained the Western Province Town and Country XV which handed the Lions their first defeat on tour. Brand's wide-angled kick during the dying minutes of the game propelled his team to an 11-8 victory. At Cape Town's Newlands Stadium Brand led the Western Province to a 21-11 triumph to which he contributed nine points.[7]
His name was among the first listed for the Springboks for the first test at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg. A record crowd of 36,000 saw how Brand kicked 14 points (4 conversions and 2 penalties)in the Springboks' 26-12 defeat of the Lions. This would prove to be his last outing in the international arena, as he was injured during preparations for the second test.[7] In all he turned out in 46 matches for the Springboks, scoring 293 points - a record only surpassed by the Springbok fly-half Naas Botha.[8]
In 1946 Brand played once more for the Western Province, but retired afterwards.
Danie Craven said of Brand: "I regard him, along with Bennie Osler, as a legend among legends - an unforgettable Springbok".[5] Brand was inducted into the International Rugby Board's Hall of Fame on 24 November 2001.[1]
Statistics
Brand played in 16 tests for the Springboks during which he scored 55 points. He was renowned for never missing an important kick.
| Opponents | Results (RSA 1st) | Position | Points | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 7 - 6 | Wing | - | 21 Jul 1928 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| New Zealand | 11 - 6 | Wing | - | 18 Aug 1928 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth |
| Wales | 8-3 | Full-back | - | 5 Des 1931 | St Helen's, Swansea |
| Ireland | 8-3 | Full-back | - | 19 Dec 1931 | Lansdowne Road, Dublin |
| England | 7-0 | Full-back | 4 (drop kick) | 2 Jan 1932 | Twickenham, London |
| Scotland | 6 - 3 | Full-back | - | 19 Jan 1932 | Murrayfield, Edinburgh |
| Australia | 17 - 3 | Full-back | 5 (penalty & conversion kick) | 8 Jul 1933 | Newlands Stadium, Cape Town |
| Australia | 6 - 21 | Full-back | 3 (penalty kick) | 22 Jul 1933 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Australia | 12 - 3 | Full-back | 2 (conversion kick) | 12 Aug 1933 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
| Australia | 11 - 0 | Wing | 3 (penalty kick) | 26 Aug 1933 | Crusaders Ground, Port Elizabeth |
| Australia | 4 - 15 | Wing | 4 (drop kick) | 2 Sep 1933 | Springbok Park, Bloemfontein |
| Australia | 9 - 3 | Full-back | 3 (penalty kick) | 26 Jun 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground |
| Australia | 26 - 17 | Full-back | 8 (conversion kicks) | 17 Jul 1937 | Sydney Cricket Ground |
| New Zealand | 13 - 6 | Full-back | 7 (penalty & conversion kicks) | 4 Sep 1937 | Lancaster Park, Christchurch |
| New Zealand | 17 - 6 | Full-back | 2 (conversion kick) | 25 Sep 1937 | Eden Park, Auckland |
| Great Britain | 26 - 12 | Full-back | 14 (penalty & conversion kicks) | 6 Aug 1938 | Ellis Park, Johannesburg |
References
- ^ a b c d Llewellyn, Dai. "Gerry Brand". World Rugby Museum Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Gerry Brand, South Africa". ESPNScrum.com. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Dobson, Paul (1995). 30 Super Springboks. Kaapstad: Human & Rousseau. ISBN 978-0798134118.
- ^ a b "Longest Drop Kick, Rugby Union". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ a b "Gerrie Brand". Enslin's Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame. Retrieved 11 December 2013.
- ^ "Joost se 10 drieë is Bok-rekord Ruben, Robert spog elk met nege [Joost's 10 tries are Bok-record - Ruben, Robert boasts with 9 each]". Beeld.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|url=(help); Text "urlhttp://152.111.1.88/argief/berigte/beeld/1993/08/12/18/1.html" ignored (help) - ^ a b c Thomas, Clem (2013). 125 Years of the British and Irish Lions: The Official History. Edinburgh & London: Mainstream Publishing. ISBN 978-1780576022.
- ^ "Botha en Gerber verbeter hul rekords [Botha and Gerber improve their records". Beeld.