Pro12: Strauss' Warriors grounded
The Pro12, which began with a scintillating opening round last week, looks set to produce more drama in Round Two.
Round One saw more tries scored than ever before (33) and the second highest ever draw in the competition (32-all Scarlets versus Ulster).
However, it was Stuart Hogg's last-gasp penalty that sparked some of the most ecstatic scenes at Scotstoun last Saturday.
However, the Scottish outfit's South African captain, Josh Strauss, said they are staying grounded after toppling the defending Pro12 champions.
Strauss was among the try scorers as Glasgow Warriors avenged their Pro12 Final defeat in May, beating Leinster 22-20 in a nervy encounter.
Strauss admitted triumph over the Irish outfit was sweet, but he knows a similar second-half showing could spell danger in future clashes.
"Obviously there was a bit of relief at the end, but it was still a great feeling," he told the Glasgow Evening Times.
"We played really well in the first half, but we know we can't afford to let it slip like we that.
"I think our discipline let us down in the second half, as did some of our defending. A few mistakes crept in.
"But I think it showed great character from the whole team to fight back and keep the ball until we could get the penalty that gave us the win.
"We really gelled well in the first half. We would have loved to have put in a full 80-minute performance like that.
"But although I'm not happy that we didn't keep it going in the second half there were a still lot of good things we can take from the game.
"There are a few things we can work on, but we're happy to get the victory."
Friday returns in force to the Pro12, with no fewer than four games at the start of the weekend.
Both Italian teams are in action, Zebre travelling to Belfast to play Ulster and Benetton Treviso welcoming Munster to Italy.
Both Irish provinces will be looking for their first win of the new season, although Ulster came away with a three point haul from their four try, 32-all draw at Parc y Scarlets last weekend.
Two of the five teams that gained a victory in the first round go head to head also on Friday, so one of their perfect starts will have to go when Edinburgh host Connacht at Murrayfield.
The final game on Friday pits two Welsh regions against each other, Newport Gwent Dragons welcoming table topping Ospreys to Rodney Parade, a ground they last won at in the Pro12 on New Year's Eve 2012.
Champions Leinster are in action against Scarlets at the RDS Arena on Saturday and will be hoping to avoid a repeat of their start to the 2003/04 season which saw them clock up two defeats.
The round wraps up in Wales on Sunday when two more teams that won their opening games come face to face, Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors.
Blues sit second in the table thanks to claiming five tries in their 41-26 defeat over Zebre, whilst Glasgow needed a last gasp penalty to give them the four points against champions Leinster.
Blues Director of Mark Hammett believes it is vital his side make Cardiff Arms Park a fortress if they are to excel in this season's Pro12.
"It's important that we make our home a tough place for teams to come," said Hammett, who saw flyhalf Rhys Patchell collect a personal haul of 21 points in victory over Zebre – the Italian team beating the Blues in both their Pro12 meetings last year.
"But just because you think it or want it doesn't mean it is going to happen and we have got to buy into that and know what that looks like. To make a home a fortress would be nice, but words are cheap, we need to perform.
"We go up against Glasgow and I thought they were exceptional on the first weekend and should have won by a clearer margin against Leinster. We are excited about playing at home and it will be fast and open on our home pitch."
Lee Byrne was also urging the Newport Gwent Dragons faithful to play their part this Pro12 season and help turn Rodney Parade into a fortress.
The new campaign didn't get off to the start captain Byrne and co had hoped for as they slipped to a 11-16 defeat at Connacht.
This Friday however they are in more familiar surroundings as they welcome Welsh rivals Ospreys to Rodney Parade.
Ospreys have always found trips to Rodney Parade tough, having lost eight of their last ten league games there.
And 34-year-old Byrne is hoping to continue that run this term, with a helping hand from the fans.
"I've had the privilege of playing in some big stadiums and I can tell you that it's not nice when you are on the receiving end of a Rodney Parade crowd," Byrne told the South Wales Argus.
"I say to the fans to keep doing what they do because it's an old-fashioned ground that keeps the atmosphere in and when I was at the Pro12 launch most of the other skippers said it was the most daunting place to come.
"We have got to take that as a compliment but we also know that we have a responsibility as a squad to play well for the crowd and get them going."
All the weekend's fixtures and teams!
Friday, September 12
Benetton Treviso v Munster
(Stadio Monigo – Kick-off: 20.00; 18.00 GMT)
The teams:
Benetton Treviso: 15 Simone Ragusi, 14 Ludovico Nitoglia, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Sam Christie, 11 Michele Campagnaro, 10 Joe Carlisle, 9 Henry Seniloli, 8 Mat Luamanu, 7 Tomas Vallejos Cinalli, 6 Meyer Swanepoel, 5 Corniel Van Zyl (captain), 4 Marco Fuser , 3 Rupert Harden, 2 Davide Giazzon, 1 Matteo Muccignat.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Maistri, 17 Matteo Zanusso, 18 Salesi Manu, 19 Marco Lazzaroni, 20 Marco Barbini, 21 Alberto Sgarbi, 22 Angelo Esposito, 23 James Ambrosini.
Munster: 15 Felix Jones (captain), 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Ivan Dineen, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Duncan Williams, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Dave Foley, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Duncan Casey, 1 James Cronin.
Replacements: 16 Kevin O'Byrne, 17 John Ryan, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Donncha O'Callaghan, 20 Sean Dougall, 21 Cathal Sheridan, 22 Johnny Holland, 23 Ronan O'Mahony.
Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Matteo Vivarini (Italy), Claudio Blessano (Italy)
TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Edinburgh v Connacht
(Murrayfield – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
The teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Jack Cuthbert, 14 Sam Beard, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Nick McLennan, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Tomas Leonardi, 5 Ollie Atkins, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 3 John Andress, 2 Ross Ford (captain), 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Anton Bresler, 20 Mike Coman, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Grayson Hart, 23 Joaquin Dominguez.
Connacht: 15 Darragh Leader, 14 Niyi Adeolokun, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Danie Poolman, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Nathan White, 2 Dave Heffernan, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Sean Henry, 17 Finlay Bealham, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Aly Muldowney, 20 George Naoupu, 21 Ian Porter, 22 Craig Ronaldson, 23 Fionn Carr.
Referee: Gary Conway (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Lloyd Linton (Scotland), Graeme Marshall (Scotland)
TMO: David Changleng (Scotland)
Newport Gwent Dragons v Ospreys
(Rodney Parade – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
The teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Lee Byrne (captain), 14 Hallam Amos, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Aled Brew, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Lloyd Fairbrother, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 T. Rhys Thomas, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Dan Way, 19 Andrew Coombs, 20 Andy Powell, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Angus O'Brien, 23 Tom Prydie.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Dan Baker, 7 James King, 6 Joe Bearman, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Lloyd Peers (captain), 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Daniel Suter, 19 Tyler Ardron, 20 Morgan Allen, 21 Martin Roberts, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris (Wales), Dan Jones (Wales)
TMO: Derek Bevan (Wales)
Ulster v Zebre
(Kingspan Stadium – Kick-off: 19.35; 18.35 GMT)
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Ricky Andrew, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Ian Humphreys, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Chris Henry, 6 Robbie Diack, 5 Dan Tuohy, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rory Best (c), 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Ruaidhri Murphy, 18 Bronson Ross, 19 Franco van der Merwe, 20 Roger Wilson, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Stuart Olding, 23 Louis Ludik.
Zebre: 15 Hendrik Daniller, 14 David Odiete, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Gonzalo Garcia (c), 11 Giulio Toniolatti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 George Biagi, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Dario Chistolini, 2 Andrea Manici, 1 Andrea De Marchi.
Replacements: 16 Oliviero Fabiani, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Luciano Leibson, 19 Valerio Bernabò, 21 Quintin Geldenhuys, 21 Samuela Vunisa, 22 Guglielmo Palazzani, 23 Edoardo Padovani.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Saturday, September 13
Leinster v Scarlets
(RDS Arena – Kick-off: 14.40; 13.40 GMT)
The teams:
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Mark Patton (Ireland), Jonathan Peak (Ireland)
TMO: Alan Rogan (Ireland)
Sunday, September 14
Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors
(Cardiff Arms Park – Kick-off: 16.00; 15.00 GMT)
The teams:
Cardiff Blues: 15 Adam Thomas, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Gavin Evans, 11 Dan Fish, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Manoa Vosawai, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Sam Hobbs.
Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Taufa'ao Filise, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Davies, 23 Richard Smith.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Wayne Davies (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
TMO: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)
