John Gainsford
Full names: John Leslie
Date of birth: 4 Aug 1938
Place of birth: Germiston
School: Windsor
Springbok no: 348
Debut test province: Western Province
Physical: 1.83m, 81.6kg
Date of death: 18 Nov 2015 (Age 77)

Test summary: Tests: 33 Tries: 8
First Test: 30 Apr 1960 Age:21 Outside Centre against Scotland at Boet Erasmus, Port Elizabeth
Last Test: 29 Jul 1967 Age:28 Outside Centre against France at Ellispark, Johannesburg
Test history:
DateAgePositionOpponentResultScoreVenueProv
30 Apr 196021Outside CentreScotlandWin: 18-10 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
25 Jun 196021Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 13-0 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP
23 Jul 196021Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 3-11 Newlands, Cape TownWP
13 Aug 196022Outside CentreNew ZealandDraw: 11-11 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
27 Aug 196022Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 8-3 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
03 Dec 196022Outside CentreWalesWin: 3-0 Millenium Stadium (Cardiff Arms Park), CardiffWP
17 Dec 196022Outside CentreIrelandWin: 8-31 tryAviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinWP
07 Jan 196122Outside CentreEnglandWin: 5-0 Twickenham, LondonWP
21 Jan 196122Outside CentreScotlandWin: 12-5 Murrayfield, EdinburghWP
18 Feb 196122Outside CentreFranceDraw: 0-0 Stade Olympique, Colombes, ParisWP
05 Aug 196123Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 28-31 tryEllispark, JohannesburgWP
12 Aug 196123Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 23-11 Boet Erasmus, Port ElizabethWP
23 Jun 196223Outside CentreBritainDraw: 3-31 tryEllispark, JohannesburgSWD
21 Jul 196223Outside CentreBritainWin: 3-0 Kingspark, DurbanSWD
04 Aug 196224Outside CentreBritainWin: 8-3 Newlands, Cape TownSWD
25 Aug 196224Outside CentreBritainWin: 34-141 tryFree State Stadium, BloemfonteinSWD
13 Jul 196324Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 14-3 Loftus Versfeld, PretoriaSWD
10 Aug 196325Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 5-9 Newlands, Cape TownSWD
24 Aug 196325Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 9-11 Ellispark, JohannesburgSWD
07 Sep 196325Outside CentreAustraliaWin: 22-61 tryBoet Erasmus, Port ElizabethSWD
23 May 196425Outside CentreWalesWin: 24-3 Kingspark, DurbanWP
25 Jul 196425Outside CentreFranceLose: 6-8 P.A.M. Brink Stadium, SpringsWP
10 Apr 196526Outside CentreIrelandLose: 6-9 Aviva Stadium (Lansdowne Road), DublinWP
17 Apr 196526Outside CentreScotlandLose: 5-8 Murrayfield, EdinburghWP
19 Jun 196526Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 11-18 Sydney Cricket Ground, SydneyWP
26 Jun 196526Outside CentreAustraliaLose: 8-121 trySuncorp Stadium (Lang Park), BrisbaneWP
31 Jul 196526Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 3-6 Athletic Park, WellingtonWP
21 Aug 196527Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 0-13 Carisbrook, DunedinWP
04 Sep 196527Outside CentreNew ZealandWin: 19-162 triesLancaster Park (Jade stadium), ChristchurchWP
18 Sep 196527Outside CentreNew ZealandLose: 3-20 Eden Park, AucklandWP
15 Jul 196728Outside CentreFranceWin: 26-3 Kingspark, DurbanWP
22 Jul 196728Outside CentreFranceWin: 16-3 Free State Stadium, BloemfonteinWP
29 Jul 196728Outside CentreFranceLose: 14-19 Ellispark, JohannesburgWP

John Gainsford : Doc Craven

John played for False Bay initially, but it wasn't until he joined Villagers that he developed the devastating break which became a hallmark of his play.

It was from his left foot that he used to break inwards and then straighten out. Big and strong; a man who would give his life to play for the Springboks. When he played you could see determination written all over his face.

He scored some unforgettable tries, particularly the two against the All Blacks at Christchurch in 1965. John was, and still is, an outspoken man. A man's man: one who never apologised for his belief that rugby was played to be won.