What. A. Final! I don't know how long it will take for the 2015 Super Rugby final to be topped, but only one hell of a game of rugby will beat it. The pace was relentless. The skills were outrageous. And as a spectacle, the game itself was breathless. We had another slightly less breathless spectacle four days later when Samoa hosted the All Blacks in Apia. It's been a big week for New Zealand rugby. Here's a few things that stuck out.

History in the Pacific

What a day in Apia. What an atmosphere at the ground. And what an important moment in the history of Samoan rugby. This might just be the moment that Samoa are recognised for the top-10 rugby nation they are, and the catalyst for other major nations to follow New Zealand's lead and tour.

Samoa have played just 11 Tests against major rugby nations since they were bundled out of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and only two of those Tests - Scotland in 2012 and Italy in 2013 - have been played on home soil.

This was the first appearance of the All Blacks in Samoa. Australia have never toured; neither have England or South Africa. Considering the mark of Samoan rugby on the international game, it's frankly not good enough.

Samoa's Kahn Fotualii (L) and Tusi Pisi perform Siva Tau © Getty Images

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Samoa took it right to the All Blacks up front, and the 12-3 half-time score was a fair reflection of the contest. New Zealand were in control, but they weren't running away with it; indeed, they looked early on like they might've been a bit caught up in the whole festival feel of the fixture.

George Moala then scored off a perfect kick-pass from Dan Carter, and we thought the All Blacks would run away with it; only once had they failed to post 50 points against Samoa -they scored 35 points in the first of the five previous Tests between the sides. But Samoa scored on the hour, just as New Zealand were getting ready to put the foot down: flanker Alafoti Faosiliva showed great strength to make the initial break, and then followed up to support the offload and crashed over. The conversion made it 22-16 to the All Blacks, and a grandstand finish assured.

The All Blacks would go on and close the game out in the final 15 minutes, as you expected of the world's best side, but Samoa certainly didn't disgrace themselves; indeed, supporters of Scotland and South Africa now know that progressing from Rugby World Cup Pool B won't be easy.

Wednesday was historic for a number of reasons, and it wouldn't surprise if the 8100 crowd at Apia Park grows over time. Everyone wanted to be a part of this occasion, and there's bound to be some proud embellishment of the day the All Blacks went to Samoa.

What really got the Highlanders home

I alerted you to this possible superpower a few weeks ago, and I'm here to tell you again why Elliot Dixon was able to carry four Hurricanes over the line on the stroke of half-time.

The HEADTAPE! Never underestimate power of Elliot Dixon 's head tape!! #HURvHIG

— Brett McKay (@BMcSport) July 4, 2015

I'm telling you, it's the best head tape in the game, and maybe it's the reason why Dixon had such a strong finals series.

Of course, the real reason was the self-belief within the southerners. The morale within the Highlanders was sky-high by kick-off, and not even a partisan full house in Wellington could shake it. And that belief within and of themselves is the reason why players such as Dixon - and guys like Dan Pryor, Alex Ainley, Josh Hohneck, Shaun Treeby, Richard Buckman and inspirational co-captain Nasi Manu, to name just a few - performed consistently at levels beyond expectation.

This was a team so much better than the sum of the parts, and for that great kudos must go to Jamie Joseph and his coaching team.

Credit must also go to the Highlanders supporters, too, who turned out all season, welcomed them home in massive numbers on Sunday morning, and then congratulated their champions in wonderful scenes in Dunedin on Monday.

I've said before that it's impossible not to love the Highlanders, and this title and the way they achieved it only underlines this. What a wonderful team.

Young punks destined for big international seasons

We touched on this in the #Scrum5 podcast, but with Super Rugby now done for the year it's time to cast the eye forward and think about which young stars are about to tear it up on the international stage, too.

Nehe Milner-Skudder: It's impossible to think he won't at some point be used off the All Blacks bench during The Rugby Championship and just carry on bamboozling defenders at international level, too. He has a ridiculous eye for a half-gap; just when you think you've got him covered, out comes the stutter-step and he's gone. A very special talent.

Jaco Kriel: The Lions back-rower didn't make the initial Springboks squad - unbelievably so - but I imagine that will be rectified before too long. The current injury crisis gripping the Boks just about necessitates that, and his defensive workrate and attacking skills will be a massive asset. He was genuinely one of the first name picked in ESPN's Super Rugby Team of the Season.

Scott Sio: Ah, the much-maligned Australian front row. Michael Cheika's first Wallabies squad of 2015 - and particularly the omission of Ben Alexander and Benn Robinson - means that all spots are up for grabs. Sio played his 50th Super Rugby game in the second half of the season, but he has only five Test caps to his name. Inopportune injury has meant he's yet to play more than two consecutive matches, and he's not pulled on the gold jersey since June 2014. A chance to cement a starting spot is right there for him.