Gary Teichmann
Birth name | Gary Hamilton Teichmann | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date of birth | (1967-01-09) 9 January 1967 (age 57) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Gwelo, Rhodesia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 220 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
School | Hilton College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
University | Cedara College of Agriculture; University of Natal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gary Hamilton Teichmann (born 9 January 1967) is a retired South African professional rugby union player.[1] He played number eight and captained the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999.[2]
Teichmann stands 1.95 metres tall and weighed about 100 kilograms for most of his career. His humility and fair play earned him wide respect throughout the rugby world.
Early career
Teichmann was born in Gwelo, Rhodesia. He moved to South Africa with his family when he was 11 years old. He was educated at Hilton College.[3]
Teichmann started his career playing club rugby for the University of Natal team in Pietermaritzburg before being spotted by the Natal Province's Currie Cup team in 1991. He was soon promoted to captain by then Natal coach Ian McIntosh and played for Natal in three Currie Cup victories in 1992, 1995, and 1996 (Captain in 1995 and 1996). The team under Teichmann also finished in second place in 1993 and 1999 and made it to the final of the Super 10 (the precursor to the Super 12 and Super 14) competition in 1994. The Natal Currie Cup team became the core of the team now known as the Sharks when the Super 12 competition began in 1996, and Teichmann also captained that side. After the team was renamed the Sharks in 1998 he led them to the final of the Super 12. In all, Teichmann represented Natal and the Sharks in 144 matches.
Springbok captain
In 1993, he was selected for the Springbok tour to Argentina, and in 1994 he was again selected as part of the squad that toured Wales and Scotland. It wasn't until 2 September 1995 that he played his first full international as a Springbok, however. He scored a try in his debut test as the Springboks went on to defeat Wales 40–11 at Ellis Park.
After playing only 6 test matches for the Springboks, Teichmann was appointed as captain of the squad in 1996, and went on to become one of South Africa's most successful captains ever.[citation needed] He captained the Springboks in 36 tests between 1996 and 1999, with 27 of those (72%) ending in victory. The Springboks, with Teichmann at the helm, were considered by many[who?] the greatest South African team in history.[citation needed]
Between 1997 and 1998, the Springboks went on a record winning streak of 17 consecutive test matches. As part of their unbeaten run, they won the 1998 Tri Nations Series undefeated, beating both Australia and New Zealand away from home. They kicked off the feat with a record dismantling of Australia to win 61–22 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria and ended with a defeat against England at Twickenham at the end of a long tour.
A list of record victories during that period includes:
- 23 July 1997: South Africa 61–22 Australia at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
- 22 November 1997: South Africa 52–10 France at Parc des Princes, Paris
- 6 December 1997: South Africa 68–10 Scotland at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
- 27 July 1998: South Africa 96–13 Wales at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Although not records, they also beat Ireland 33–0 at Loftus and Italy 74–3 in Port Elizabeth. In all Teichmann played 42 tests for the Springboks, and held the record for the most consecutive test matches played for the Springboks with 39.[4] This has since been surpassed by another Springbok captain, John Smit.
Later years
In 1999, coach Nick Mallett, who thought that Teichmann had lost most of his form, controversially dropped him from the squad shortly before the 1999 Rugby World Cup. The Springbok squad's performance suffered after Teichmann was dropped until 2000 when Mallett resigned as coach of the Springboks. Mallett has since admitted that with the benefit of hindsight, dropping Teichmann was a big mistake.
Teichmann described himself as "gutted" after being left out of the squad. He moved to Wales where he played for the Newport club. He captained Newport to their first Principality Cup win in 24 years in 2001, announcing his retirement from rugby shortly after. He also wrote his autobiography, "For The Record", during this time.[3]
As of 2005, Teichmann serves in an advisory capacity on the board of The Sharks (Pty) Ltd. He lives in Durban and runs a successful earthmoving business.
References
- ^ "Gary Hamilton Teichmann". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
- ^ Schoeman, Chris (1999). Who's who of South African rugby 1999 (Fourth ed.). Cape Town: Don Nelson Publishers. p. 191. ISBN 1-86806-174-4. OCLC 1046525567.
- ^ a b Teichmann, Gary; Griffiths, Edward (2000). For the Record. Jonathan Ball. ISBN 978-1-86842-098-8.
- ^ Grieb, Eddie (2016). South African Rugby Annual 2016. Cape Town: SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY. p. 219. ISBN 978-0620692908. OCLC 957740131.
External links
- "SA Rugby Player Profile – Gary Teichmann". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
- Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame Profile
- Website of the Sharks Super 14 Franchise Archived 29 August 2005 at the Wayback Machine
- Irish Examiner: Beating England Means Everything
- BBC News Article: Winning Swansong for Teichman
- BBC News Article: Teichmann Calls Time on Parade
Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | Springbok Captain 1996–99 | Succeeded by |
- v
- t
- e
- Apr 1915: Edgar Mobbs (vs. Wal)
- Jan 1948: Haydn Tanner (vs. Aus)
- Jan 1952: Jimmy Nelson (vs. SA)
- Feb 1954: Rex Willis (vs. NZ)
- Feb 1958: Cliff Morgan (vs. Aus)
- May 1958: Jim Greenwood (vs. East Africa)
- Feb 1961: Ronnie Dawson (vs. SA)
- Nov 1962: Ron Jacobs (vs. Can)
- Feb 1964: Ronnie Dawson (vs. NZ)
- Jan 1967: Noel Murphy (vs. Aus)
- Dec 1967: Stewart Wilson (vs. NZ)
- May 1969: John O'Shea (vs. Rhodesia)
- Jan 1970: Gareth Edwards (vs. SA)
- May 1970: John Spencer (vs. Sco XV)
- Oct 1970: Frank Laidlaw (vs. Fiji)
- Jan 1973: John Dawes (vs. NZ)
- Nov 1974: Willie John McBride (vs. NZ)
- Jan 1976: Mervyn Davies (vs. Aus)
- Jun 1976: Phil Bennett (vs. Can)
- Sep 1977: Gerald Davies (vs. Lions)
- Dec 1978: Derek Quinnell (vs. NZ)
- Jan 1982: Bill Beaumont (vs. Aus) cancelled
- Mar 1983: Fergus Slattery (vs. Sco XV)
- Dec 1984: Gareth Davies (vs. Aus)
- May 1985: Colin Deans (vs. Ita)
- Nov 1988: Phillip Matthews (vs. Aus)
- Nov 1989: David Sole (vs. NZ)
- Sep 1990: Nick Farr-Jones (vs. Eng)
- Oct 1990: Nick Farr-Jones (vs. Wales)
- Nov 1990: Robert Jones (vs. Arg)
- Sep 1991: Stuart Barnes (vs. Sco)
- Jun 1992: Andy Robinson (vs. Rus)
- Nov 1992: Will Carling (vs. Aus)
- Dec 1993: Scott Hastings (vs. NZ)
- Jun 1994: Neil Edwards (vs. Zim)
- Dec 1994: Robert Jones (vs. SA)
- May 1996: Phil de Glanville (vs. Ire)
- Aug 1996: Gavin Hastings (vs. Sco)
- Aug 1996: Arran Pene (vs. Wal)
- Dec 1996: Rob Andrew (vs. Aus)
- May 2000: Ian Jones (vs. Ire)
- May 2000: Zinzan Brooke (vs. Sco)
- Aug 2000: Jeff Probyn (vs. Ger)
- Dec 2000: Lawrence Dallaglio (vs. SA)
- May 2001: Gary Teichmann (vs. Wal)
- May 2001: Tim Horan (vs. Sco)
- May 2001: Gary Teichmann (vs. Eng)
- Nov 2001: Rob Howley (vs. Aus)
- May 2002: Todd Blackadder (vs. Eng)
- May 2002: Pat Lam (vs. Wal)
- Jun 2002: Ian Jones (vs. Sco)
- May 2003: Taine Randell (vs. Eng)
- May 2003: Mick Galwey (vs. Sco)
- May 2003: Mark Connors (vs. Wal)
- May 2004: Taine Randell (vs. Sco)
- May 2004: Matt Burke (vs. Wal)
- May 2004: Anton Oliver (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2004: Rob Baxter (vs. Por)
- Dec 2004: Justin Marshall (vs. NZ)
- May 2005: David Humphreys (vs. Sco)
- May 2005: Corné Krige (vs. Eng)
- May 2006: Raphaël Ibañez (vs. Eng)
- May 2006: Will Greenwood (vs. Sco)
- Jun 2006: Bobby Skinstad (vs. Geo)
- May 2007: Hugh Vyvyan (vs. Tun)
- Jun 2007: Hugh Vyvyan (vs. Esp)
- Dec 2007: Mark Regan (vs. SA)
- May 2008: Mark Regan (vs. Bel)
- May 2008: Morgan Turinui (vs. Ire)
- Jun 2008: Mark Regan (vs. Eng)
- Dec 2008: John Smit (vs. Aus)
- May 2009: Martin Corry (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs. Aus)
- Dec 2009: Victor Matfield (vs. NZ)
- May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs. Ire)
- Dec 2010: Matt Giteau (vs. SA)
- May 2011: Sergio Parisse (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2011: Sergio Parisse (vs. Wal)
- Nov 2011: Victor Matfield (vs. Aus)
- May 2012: John Smit (vs. Eng)
- May 2012: Mick O'Driscoll (vs. Ire)
- Jun 2012: John Smit (vs. Wal)
- May 2013: Mike Tindall (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2013: Sergio Parisse (vs. Lions)
- Jun 2014: Juan Manuel Leguizamón (vs. Eng)
- Nov 2014: Alastair Kellock (vs. Aus)
- May 2015: Shane Jennings (vs. Ire)
- Jun 2015: Brad Thorn (vs Eng)
- Aug 2015: Bakkies Botha (vs Sam)
- Nov 2015: Victor Matfield (vs. Arg)
- Nov 2016: Andy Ellis (vs. SA)
- Nov 2016: Dan Tuohy (vs Cze)
- Nov 2016: Andy Ellis (vs Fij)
- May 2017: Thierry Dusautoir (vs. Eng)
- May 2018: Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (vs. Eng)
- Jun 2019: James Horwill (vs. Eng)