As for the Sunwolves and the Argentinian outfit ... well, there is promise, but it is early days.
The Brumbies made the biggest statement of the opening weekend with a 52-10 thrashing of the Hurricanes in Canberra late on Friday night.
The Australian side was too strong all round for the Hurricanes which looked a shadow of the side which topped the competition standings last year.
The Brumbies were in control right through the match as it all went wrong for the Hurricanes.
The Hurricanes will take on the Highlanders in Dunedin this Saturday in a rematch of last year's final, although both sides opened the season with a loss.
The Highlanders went down to the Blues 33-31 in Auckland on Friday night.
The Argentinian side, the Jaguares, beat the Cheetahs in a thrilling encounter in Bloemfontein on Saturday morning.
The home team went out to an early lead but the Jaguares came back and eventually won 34-33.
The other team from a new country to the competition, the Japanese Sunwolves lost 26-13 to the Lions in Tokyo.
The Sunwolves have only been together for a few weeks and put on a gallant display but there will be plenty of losses for the side.
In Christchurch, Chiefs flanker Sam Cane scored a try in the last 10 minutes to win the game 27-21 for his side against the Crusaders.
In a high-paced game, the Crusaders made some sloppy errors at crucial times and could not put a determined Chiefs team away.
The Waratahs scored four tries and limited the opposition to one to secure a bonus point in a 30-10 win over the Reds in Sydney.
With plenty of firepower across the park, the Waratahs are going to be dangerous.
They will take on the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night.
The Rebels got their season off to a successful start with a 25-19 win over the Force in Perth.
Former Highlanders loose forward Adam Thomson, who has joined the Rebels from the Reds, scored a try for his new team.
In South Africa, the Stormers were much too good for the Bulls, winning 33-9.
Neither of these teams is set to play New Zealand sides because of the structure of the draw.
In the other game in South Africa, the Sharks won 48-3 over the Kings.
The Kings hosted the game against a Sharks side which was tipped to struggle but they were too good for the Kings.
The two new teams, the Kings and the Sunwolves, have the bye this weekend.
● The Highlanders Braveheart team had a convincing 46-19 win over the Crusaders Knights in Christchurch on Saturday.
