Daryl Gibson

One of the most talented and versatile backs in New Zealand rugby through the 1990s and into the 2000s, Daryl Gibson was often a victim of those very same all round accomplishments.

For he was not always assured of a starting position in any of the teams in which he played, be it Canterbury at NPC level or the Crusaders in the Super 12.

He was capable of playing with equal facility at fullback, wing and in the midfield at either centre or second five eighths. So as one of the best utility backs of the past 20 years he frequently ended up as a reserve and the more flexible replacement rules from the late 1990s meant there was an inevitable temptation to use him from the bench.

Gibson also played at a time when Canterbury and the Crusaders had an excess of outstanding backs. In his time with the province and the franchise he faced the competition of Mark Mayerhofler, Tabai Matson, the Mauger brothers, Aaron and Nathan, Mark Robinson and Norman Berryman for midfield places, Berryman, Caleb Ralph, Marika Vunibaka and Afato So’oalo on the wings and Leon MacDonald and Ben Blair as fullbacks.

Yet even with these players clamouring for regular places Gibson played in 80 games for Canterbury from his debut as an 18-year old in 1993 until 2002 and in 78 games for the Crusaders.

He was involved in all of the great triumphs of either the province or the Crusaders. He was in all four of the Super 12 wins (1998-2000 and in 2002), in the two Ranfurly Shield eras (1994-95) and (2000-03) and the NPC wins of 1997 and 2002. In 2000 he was captain of the side which lifted the shield from Waikato.

An obvious prospect for top honours from his teenage years, Gibson graduated from national age group sides to play for the New Zealand Colts in 1994-96, in the Academy XV which beat England in 1998 and in several New Zealand Maori selections between 1996 and 2000.

Gibson thus had had a thorough grounding when after scoring one of the Crusaders’ tries in the Super 12 final win over the Highlanders he was finally elevated to the All Blacks in 1999.

He had a leading role in the 1999 leadup matches to the World Cup, playing in six matches in tri-nations and especially well in the big win over France at Athletic Park. However, he was less prominent in the cup itself, making five appearances but starting only in the pool match against Italy in which he scored his one test try.

In 2000 he missed the tri-nations and all the domestic tests, but was recalled for the tour of France and Italy, playing in the two internationals against France.

Surprisingly because it was known that he was about to head overseas to take up a contract in England, Gibson was recalled to the All Blacks in 2002, making six appearances in the tri-nations and domestic tests but starting only against Italy and France. Of his 19 tests Gibson startedin only 11.

In the professional era Gibson was one player who combined rugby with a successful academic record and he graduated from Canterbury University with two degrees, specialising in education. He duly left for England in 2002 after playing in three of Canterbury’s early season NPC matches, being lost to New Zealand at the relatively early age of 27.