Gary Teichmann
{{Short description|South African rugby union player}}
{{use South African English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image =
| birth_name = Gary Hamilton Teichmann
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1967|1|9}}
| birth_place = Gwelo, Rhodesia
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=5}}
| weight = {{convert|220|lbs|kg|abbr=on}}
| ru_position = Number eight
| ru_amateuryears = 1987–1991
| ru_amateurclubs = Natal University (Maritzburg)
| ru_clubyears = 1991–1999
1999–2001
| ru_proclubs = {{Rut|Sharks (Currie Cup)|CC=y}}
Newport
| ru_clubcaps = 144
52
| ru_clubpoints =
(35)
| super14years = 1996–1999
| super14 = Sharks
| super14caps =
| super14points = (40)
| ru_provinceyears =
| ru_province =
| ru_provincecaps =
| ru_provincepoints =
| ru_nationalyears = 1995–1999
| ru_nationalteam = {{nowrap|South Africa}}
| ru_nationalcaps = 42
| ru_nationalpoints = (30)
| school = Hilton College
| university = Cedara College of Agriculture;
University of Natal
}}
Gary Hamilton Teichmann (born 9 January 1967) is a retired South African professional rugby union player.{{Cite web|title=Gary Hamilton Teichmann|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/12075.html|access-date=2020-06-10|publisher=ESPNscrum}} He played number eight and captained the South African national team, the Springboks, between 1995 and 1999.{{Cite book|last=Schoeman|first=Chris|title=Who's who of South African rugby 1999|publisher=Don Nelson Publishers|year=1999|isbn=1-86806-174-4|edition=Fourth|location=Cape Town|pages=191|oclc=1046525567}}
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.{{cite book|last1=Teichmann|first1=Gary |last2=Griffiths|first2=Edward |title=For the Record|url=https://archive.org/details/forrecord00gary|url-access=registration|year=2000|publisher=Jonathan Ball|isbn=978-1-86842-098-8}}
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|date=September 2015}} 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|date=September 2015}} the greatest South African team in history.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}}
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.{{Cite book|title=South African Rugby Annual 2016.|last=Grieb|first=Eddie|date=2016|publisher=SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY|isbn=978-0620692908|location=Cape Town|pages=219|oclc=957740131}} 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.
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
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=18116 | name=Gary Teichmann | date=10 March 2016}}
- [http://www.genslin.us/bokke/PlayerData.aspx?PlayerID=67 Springbok Rugby Hall of Fame Profile]
- [http://www.natalsharks.co.za Website of the Sharks Super 14 Franchise] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829085525/http://www.natalsharks.co.za/ |date=29 August 2005 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20041230223731/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1998/12/03/fshead.htm Irish Examiner: Beating England Means Everything]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1325398.stm BBC News Article: Winning Swansong for Teichman]
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/wales/1134906.stm BBC News Article: Teichmann Calls Time on Parade]
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{s-bef|before=Adriaan Richter}}
{{s-ttl|title=Springbok Captain|years=1996–99}}
{{s-aft|after=Corné Krige}}
{{s-end}}
{{Barbarian RFC Captains in Internationals}}
{{South Africa Squad 1995 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Teichmann, Gary}}
Category:White Rhodesian people
Category:Sportspeople from Gweru
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:South Africa international rugby union players
Category:Zimbabwean rugby union players
Category:Zimbabwean emigrants to South Africa
Category:Sharks (Currie Cup) players
Category:Sharks (rugby union) players
Category:Alumni of Hilton College (South Africa)
Category:Barbarian F.C. players