Gerber calls on Exiles teammates to step up

Matt Jones - Editor 20:10 27/09/2016
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  • DuRandt Gerber.

    Dubai Exiles lynchpin Durandt Gerber has called on his team-mates to “step up” after it was confirmed he is expected to be out of action until 2017.

    The talismanic South African was taken off in his club’s opening West Asia Premiership 24-5 win against Doha on Friday.

    Coach Jacques Benade feared the 34-year-old fly-half might be out of action for three to six weeks but Gerber confirmed he separated his shoulder in the game and underwent an operation on Sunday, which will put keep him sidelined until the new year.

    Gerber, who has an Italy A cap and was part of the Azzurri’s training squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, will miss an early season crunch Premiership clash with Abu Dhabi Harlequins this weekend, but insists Exiles can progress without him.

    “We’ve got a good squad, a lot of good players, it’s just now everyone else will have to step up and play their part,” said the schemer.

    “We’ve got guys like Matt Travers who have just come in and is a good player, Dan Antonelli in the twos too who could play a part. But I just expect everyone to step up and keep going. One player doesn’t make a massive difference and hopefully the boys can keep going.

    He admits it won’t enjoy watching the next few months of the season from the sidelines, especially with the mouthwatering clash with Quins at Zayed Sports City on Friday.

    “It’s not going to be easy, but I’ll be at the games and try to help the boys as much as I can off the pitch, try and work with Matt Travers and the backs to try and make sure we do still do all the things right and play fantastic rugby,” added Gerber, who is aiming for the return trip to Doha on January 13 as his return.

    “I will definitely help the team and be part of the group. It’s never a good time to get injured but maybe it’s better to have got injured now.

    “Now I can come back for the second half of the season rather than getting injured halfway through. Exiles can now look at new players at fly-half and get on with the season and give other boys a go and build some momentum.

    “Quins is always a good game to measure yourself and it will be tough not to be involved, but there’s not much I can do about it. I just have to focus now on starting rehab and getting back.

    “It’s the first real injury I’ve had in my rugby career so now I’m just concentrating on my recuperation. I’m targeting a return against Doha in January, that’s my personal goal. If I can get back for that then I’ll be happy.”

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