The Pen: It is a travesty Johnny Matthews is not in the Scotland squad

So it’s a nice easy task this weekend against the Stormers! They’ve only got a few world champion Springboks!

South Africa is always a difficult place to travel to. You have to play exceptionally well to come away with a victory.

You have to work hard to come away with anything. So while defeat may be disappointing, coming away with two points against that Sharks side is a good result! 

And when you consider that as the game ticked into the 79th minute, the Warriors still needed two tries, you can see that the boys' 'never say die' attitude was once again on show.

The bonus point try from Johnny Matthews was, in many ways, absolutely insane.

To go coast to coast, in the 80th minute of an energy-sapping encounter shows effort and commitment that deserves to be rewarded with a place in the Scotland squad… or not apparently! 

Johnny Matthews has again been left out of the Scotland squad (Image: SNS) How Matthews is constantly overlooked for Scotland duty defies belief. He was the top scorer in the league last season, already scored three this season and been in top form, it seems mad that he’s not Scotland’s starting hooker. To not be in the squad genuinely blows my mind. That he has just one cap is a travesty! 

Speaking of the Scotland squad, Captain Sione is a superb choice.

He is a truly world-class player and it’s clear that the players around him respond to him and the way he plays.

Sione Tuipulotu will captain Glasgow against Stormers - and lead Scotland in the Autumn Nations Series (Image: SNS) I suggest that my fellow Warriors fans enjoy the next few months of Sione in black and blue because I don’t think he will be with us for too much longer.

He’s going to have some major interest from England, France and possibly even the Super Rugby sides who would all no doubt be delighted to have a player of his calibre in their team.

He’ll not be short of offers and like the days of Hogg, Russell and Gray, when the bigger offers come in, Glasgow have to decide if they match it, and miss out on other targets or players staying, or let him go and spend the money else where. 

I am also delighted to see Tom Jordan, Max Williamson and Nathan McBeth called up. All three have been superb so far this season and it will be very exciting to see Jordan in particular.

Tom Jordan is deserving of a Scotland call-up (Image: SNS) He’s been in excellent form either at 10 or 12 and I think he adds, and more importantly enhances, the options that Townsend has at his disposal. Franco’s faith in the man from Aotearoa have more than be repaid and it’s time to see him on the international stage. 

And before we get to this Saturday, how good is it that we’ve managed to surpass 10,000 tickets sold for Hampden and that’s before the public sale for the tickets.

Hopefully we can at least double the amount of bodies in the ground and begin to grow a bigger and bigger following and support. 

The Stormers will be up next and they will pose a significant threat to the Warriors. Yet more Springboks, more World Cup winners and more players who are familiar faces.

One player we won’t face is Steven Kitshoff who may be forced to retire depending on the extent of his current neck injury.

Myself and Joshua met him when he played at Scotstoun last season for Ulster and he was a gent. I hope it’s not as serious as feared and that he can return to the game we love as soon as possible. 

So we will have to wait to see what happens on Saturday and how the team fair against a very decent team, off the back of a very good win against Munster on home soil.

They’ll be no easy task and if we could come away with more points, or maybe even a victory, then it will have been a decent trip to the Rainbow Nation!