Pat Lam isn't the only coach who struggled to make an impact with the Blues in Super Rugby but he has demonstrated his worth since moving to the northern hemisphere.
The former All Black and Samoan international joined a group that included former Australian player and coach David Nucifora, Sir John Kirwan and Tana Umaga in working with under-performing Blues sides.
But since heading north he made his mark, firstly with Connacht and most recently with Bristol, in the English Premiership.
Former British & Irish Lion and England mid-fielder, Jeremy Guscott, in his Rugby Paper column, said Lam had proven his worth and that was why Bristol had put their faith in him.
"Even with the resources Bristol have, it's not easy to join a club and establish a new culture, while, at the same time, getting the respect of everyone involved. However, Lam's track record indicates that he has done exactly that," Guscott said.
The first step in achieving that had been promotion from the Championship to the Premiership in 2017-18. Then they had secured their hold with a ninth-place in 2018-19.
Before Covid-19 stepped in, Bristol was mixing it with England's top clubs in the 2019-20 season and was sitting third when the shutdown occurred in the sport.
Should rugby resume in August, the Bristol side will benefit from the acquisition of Fijian star Semi Radradra. Guscott was awaiting the combination of Radradra and former All Black Charles Piutau in Bristol's rearguard.
"These are two of the most spectacular attacking players on the planet, and if they click then Bristol will be box office," he said.
Another important acquisition was prop Kyle Sinckler, who would boost a pack that, apart from internationals Steven Luatua and Nathan Hughes and Dave Attwood, are not well-known.
While Guscott believed Exeter were the side most likely to win the Premiership when it resumed, he believed Bristol was on target to be a genuine contender for the 2020-21 title.
"The Bristol squad seem very responsive to what Lam has put in place, but if you want to create your own era it is about keeping your standards high every week…With Lam coming to the club and Steve Lansdown's money under-writing the arrival of world-class players, they should be able to step up and challenge Exeter," he said.
A central part to achieving that would be developing strength at halfback and first five-eighths. Changes will be made with Nic White leaving to rejoin the Brumbies with Scotland player Sam Hidalgo-Clyne transferring from Lyon.
Guscott said another trial for the side might be its choice of game-plan.
"Bristol like to play a quick, free-flowing attacking game, but I'm not always sure that's the right strategy in the Premiership," he said.
It was something Wasps had tried to do with a team of quality players, including Piutau before his transfer, but it hadn't brought the high rewards.