Johnny Matthews says the bonus-point victory over Cardiff that took Glasgow Warriors back to the top of the URC was the perfect response to their recent dip in form.
The hooker scored two tries as Warriors dispatched the Welsh side 40-17 at Scotstoun.
It ended a three-game losing run that saw Warriors knocked out of the Champions Cup by Toulon in the quarter-final before back-to-back heavy URC losses in South Africa to Lions and Stormers.
“I think we were hurting a little bit as a group – well not a little bit, quite a lot – after we probably didn’t give the best account of ourselves when we were away in South Africa,” Matthews told BBC Scotland.
“We knew we had to come back and put a performance on for the fans, so to come and put 40 points on a very good Cardiff team was something we needed as a group.
“It’s back in our hands. We know we’ve got to go to Ulster next week and get five points if we want to get that top spot, but it’s in our hands and we know as a group, we’ve got that in us.”
In his last regular season appearance at Scotstoun before he departs for French side Montauban this summer, Matthews was given a huge ovation by the home fans as he left the field in the second half.
“It was brilliant to get that ovation there when I was coming off. It’s something I’ll always cherish,” he said.
“I’ve spent seven years here and I’ve loved every minute of it, so to be able to get that moment was truly special for me.”
