Gerrie was most difficult to tackle with his long strides and knees that would almost come up to his chin when running. The tries he scored for South Africa, especially the one in that second test against New Zealand in 1981, showed that not only was he an excellent wing, but one who could compare favourably with any of the players South Africa has produced in this position.

I got to know Gerrie well when the Springboks toured South America in 1980 and found him to be a person who adhered to the famous saying "always be faithful to the boy that is in you". One day he appeared at the hotel with a toy dog which was able to imitate all the acts of a live dog: barking, wagging the tail and so forth. The result was that most of the team, including myself, went out and bought similar toys.

He gave Free State, Transvaal, and South Africa outstanding service in his long and distinguished career and has remained the decent, likeable person he was before fame came his way.