As ballsy as Kevin Anderson was against tennis maestro Novak Djokovic, the best feel-good sports moment of the week came from faraway Apia in Samoa.

That’s when the All Blacks came to town, finally honouring the splendid tradition of Samoan rugby, the ancestral home of so many New Zealanders.

All week long the All Blacks were feted, which was only to be expected: it took 91 long years to get them there.

Eight thousand souls squeezed into the tiny stadium, plus a couple more standing on nearby roofs, anxious to see the action amid a postcard setting of rolling hills and seaside waves. As the Siva Tau and Ka Mate hakas ensued, the enormity of the occasion truly dawned. This was rugby’s brotherhood writ large.

Samoa may not bring cash or status to the party, but they bring history and ritual and thunderous ability. Heaven knows, New Zealand rugby owes them. Take a bow Michael Jones, Olo Brown, Frank Bunce, Julian Savea, Va’aiga Tuigamala and many more who have Samoan blood coursing through their veins.

The match was typically early-season stuff with dropped passes and over-weighted kicks the order of the day. But the sides got stuck into each other and Samoa provided the heavy ammo with some belting tackles. Long may they rattle the bones.

While they never quite threatened to win, Samoa proved emphatically that they deserve a seat at the top table. Luke Romano’s hideously swollen eye was testament to the physical bashing the All Blacks absorbed.

The Boks play the great island nation on September 26.

It could get rough out there.