The only shame of it was that 15,000 fans at best - 5,000 short of capacity - turned up to watch this superb semifinal. Anyone would think the people of Christchurch don't value this team anymore.
Unlike last week, there really are no excuses. Let's not forget at this point there are no guarantees of a home final; not unless the Hurricanes roll the Lions in Johannesburg.
This match deserved much better. It featured end to end attacking movements on an average surface, with a greasy ball, mixed with the brutality we've come to expect from these teams.
Kudos must go the Chiefs. They genuinely threw everything at this. The final scoreline doesn't suggest so but this was a truly gutsy performance in many respects, not least because they were forced to trek back from Cape Town this week.
The stats will tell you the Chiefs were supremely dominant in many aspects. They controlled so much of the possession and territory but just couldn't crack the seemingly impenetrable red and black wall until the 78th minute.
In the end, as coaches Dave Rennie and Kieran Keane, along with Aaron Cruden, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, James Lowe and co prepare to depart, the Chiefs will rue some inaccurate option-taking. But after delivering the Chiefs two titles back in 2012/13, Rennie's legacy stands.
The Crusaders scored four tries - three in the second half, one to Israel Dagg when Richie Mo'unga knocked the ball out of James Lowe's hands that signaled both their hunger to get off the ground and make tackles, and also that the rugby gods may well be on their side this season.
Conscious of how much ball the Highlanders kicked away last week, and how it worked against them, the Chiefs were never going to make the same mistakes.
From the outset their intent was clear: retain possession, build phases and pressure. With support players stationed off the shoulder, ready to clean out opposition when the ball carrier hit the deck, the Chiefs achieved crucial continuity and forced the Crusaders to defend and defend.
The Crusaders scored the first half's only try after Ryan Crotty and Dagg exploited space down the blindside, and Bryn Hall was found backing up as all good halfbacks should. But that was one of few attacking chances, as they spent much of their time kicking the ball away or scrambling on defence.
With Brodie Retallick heavily involved, Sam Cane and Mitchell Brown likewise, the Chiefs rumbled forward, constantly challenging the vaunted Crusaders pack. Cruden's creativity came to the fore with breaks and cross-field kicks; Lowe, Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie all sparked raids at other times, one from inside their 22. They came to play and were not afraid to have a crack.
Yet the Chiefs couldn't convert. They were unlucky to have Tim Nanai-Williams' try rubbed out by TMO Glenn Newman. Referee Glen Jackson awarded the try, only for Newman to deem the Samoan wing lost the ball over the line. If the Chiefs felt hard done by they certainly were by Jackson not going back to the advantage he was playing.
At other times, though, they could only blame themselves as execution let them down. Turnovers, knock-ons at the ruck five metres out; they lacked the clinical finishing.
Ultimately, that and the Crusaders defiant defence proved the difference.
Crusaders 27 (Seta Tamanivalu 2, Israel Dagg, Bryn Hall tries; Richie Mo'unga 2 cons, pen)
Chiefs 13 (Brodie Retallick try; Damian McKenzie 2 pens, con)
HT: 10-6
