Matthias Schosser hopes to get over his World Cup disappointment by helping Aberdeen Grammar end the year on a high.
The 27-year-old prop returned to the Grammar starting XV in last weekend’s 47-28 victory against Musselburgh at Rubislaw after representing Germany in the Rugby World Cup 2019 Repechage in Marseille.
Schosser helped the national team to a surprise 26-9 victory over top seeds Hong Kong, coming off the bench to score a try.
But qualification for the World Cup proved a step too far in the four team round robin event with Canada progressing as group winners.
But Schosser, who was born in Germany but grew up in New Zealand, feels they can take plenty of confidence from their failed qualification attempt, having been the lowest ranked seeds in the group but finishing in second spot.
He said: “It was a great experience. We were gutted that it has come to an end and we won’t be going to the World Cup but it was awesome to be involved.
“We played Hong Kong, Canada and Kenya. We needed to win all three to go through but we lost to Canada in the second game which was disappointing. Finishing second was still a good achievement.
“I played 20 minutes in the first game, 20 minutes in the second game and 70 minutes in the third. It was great to be involved at that level and training every day.
“I have been involved with the German national team for four-and-a-half years now and the improvement during that period has been massive. We showed what we can do.
“We have the European Championships starting in February so hopefully we can build on the momentum then.”
But Schosser’s immediate focus is helping Grammar maintain their unbeaten run.
Ali O’Connor’s side have made an impressive response to last month’s shock 37-24 home defeat by bottom side Cartha Queen’s Park with a victory at Dundee High, a creditable 24-24 draw at Jed-Forest and last weekend’s Musselburgh triumph.
The Rubislaw side head to Kirkcaldy this weekend hoping to chalk up another victory against the side sitting ninth in National 1.
Schosser said: “I thought we played very well against Musselburgh and produced a good performance.
“It was pleasing to come back into the side with a win.
“Kirkcaldy is a game we are hoping to win but they are a tough team and we can’t take them lightly.
“They have been unfortunate in a few games and they are better than their form suggests.
“They always put up a tough show so we know we will need to be at our best.
“We have two league games left in 2018 so it would be nice to finish with two wins.”
