IN a highly successful rugby career spanning 13 years, Bryan Gossman experienced many highs and lows.

However the former Scotland international admitted he has never been as disappointed than a week past on Sunday when the ation's Rugby World Cuo hopes went up in smoke amid no little controversy.

Australia were awarded a disputed last gasp penalty by referee Craig Joubert for an offside decision which the game's ruling body ruled was wrong  and they converted it to seal a semi-final place.

Ex-Ardrossan Accies and West of Scotland ace Gossman said: " I normally accept if we are beaten by a better team, But I have never been so upset at losing a game than I did after the quarter-final. I couldn't believe it. I don't think I have ever been as upset at losing a game.

"It was the way it happened after the end when the referee ran off like a scalded cat  I think he realised he had make a mistake and it's so unlike the governing body to say there had been a mistake.

"The referee didn't have to refer to the TV monitor, when it was such an important decision and I don't know why. That broke Scotland  Another decision was when Maitland was adjudged to have done a deliberate knock-on and he was sent off for 10 minutes, I felt that was wrong as he had an outstretched hand  and his hand was side on to the ball and it looked as if he was trying to go for the interception, It was a knock on, not a deliberate knock on. Again Australia got the decision and scored while Maitland was off. In both cases the decision should have been a scrum down to Australia. I was gutted at the end and had to go to the house and walk the dog, I was so annoyed.

"It was a travesty and injustice since Scotland were playing so well and there was only a minute to go"

Bryan was impressed with Scotland's World Cup campaign and took in the game against South Africa,

"I enjoyed the occasion but have to admit we were beaten by a better team. In the World Cup we got better in every game we played."

Bryan says the game has changed since he hung up his boots 32 years ago but enjoyed being involved and playing alongside legends after earning three Scotland cap. There is more professionalism now but I don't think that's a good thing as we need more home grown talent. ad I don' t think rugby is the same game since it went professional. I was at Ardrossan Accies , who were a junior club for two years and West of Scotland for 11 seasons. West lost to Hawick on points difference on the first season of the First Division in 1974. I was a scrum half and then a stand off." 

He enjoyed his international experiences and said: " I played alongside Gordon Brown, Andy Irvine, Jim Renwick nd David Leslie It was a a great honour to play for my country, I was on the bench 18 times, was understudy to John Rutherford and never came off but I played three full internationals, against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in 1980 and then three years later I played against France at Parc De Princes and scored two drop goals and a fortnight later my last game was against Wales at Murrayfield. We lost both games by four points so I wasn't on a winning side."

Bryan (64) who hails from Saltcoats but now lives in Seamill, s was the first former Ardrossan Academy pupil to be capped for Scotland.

And he keeps in touch with former team-mates  as a member of the Ex-Internatinalists Club who meet up twice a year.s

Bryan's brother Jimmy (60) was also a top player with Ardrossan Access and West of Scotland and came off the bench once for Scotland against England.

And Rugby is clearly in the family as Jimmy's sons Craig and Kerr play for Premiership side Ayr

He now feels schools should do more to get children involved in rugby and other sports to harness talent of the future

"It concerns me that we don't have players coming through from school. When I was there we had nine or 10 rugby teams coming out from school and that was between 135 and 150 oys. Now there are none. The onus is on the clubs to develop players. 

"Schools have to bring back sport in schools, whether it is football, golf, rugby or badminton and having competitive sports. This idea that they are trying to knock competition out of them is ridiculous because when kids have to live then life is competitive. 

"I don't think parents are encouraging their children to go out and play although there are or tennis clubs springing up with Andy Murray doing so well."

But he still has high hopes for Scotland later this season.

"If we play as well as we did against Australia in the Six Nations Championship, I really eel we can do well. Vern Cotter is a very good coach and hopefully we have a chance of challenging for the title."