Warriors' Matthews buoyed by 'best summer'

Kenny Crawford, BBC Scotland

Hooker Johnny Matthews is eager to build on "the best summer of my life" by helping Glasgow Warriors deal with the increased expectations around their capabilities.

Matthews, 30, and his wife had their wedding in July, before receiving a Scotland call-up for the Rugby World Cup and then scoring his first international try against Romania.

Domestically, he was one of six Warriors try scorers in Sunday’s opening URC bonus-point win at home to Leinster.

"Married, honeymoon, the World Cup call-up out of nowhere and then my first cap and try, it’s going to be pretty hard to top in terms of a three or four month period," Matthews told BBC Scotland.

"But we’re back to work, I’ll keep my feet on the ground and hopefully we’ll get another five points this weekend."

Franco Smith’s side visit Galway on Saturday to face Connacht, who were also victorious last weekend against Ospreys.

"Connacht will be a real good marker for us; semi-finalists last year in the URC and a real tough opposition that don’t go away," said Matthews.

"If we can go there and get a result, that’s puts us in a real good spot, that we’ve have beaten two of the semi-finalists from last year in the first two games.

"We’re really confident in our ability as a squad and we’re looking to build on last year, when the expectation wasn’t there from us, and now there is."

Matthews scored in Glasgow's 43-25 victory over Leinster on Sunday