It had just about everything. Great set piece tries, rampaging forwards, blockbusting wingers, an All Black captain being yellow carded, comebacks and, best of all, a grandstand finish.
Unfortunately, for the bulk of the big crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night, the finish was not what they wanted.
A try by Patrick Osborne right in the corner was ruled out and the Crusaders came away with a 32-20 win after the Highlanders led 12-10 at the break, in a match that was tough and physical.
Lock Joe Wheeler said the intense nature of the game had to be expected.
''That is the way it is among New Zealand teams. They are always hard-fought battles and there is no love lost between mates and there certainly wasn't out there,'' he said.
The Highlanders trailed for all but two minutes of the second half, and Wheeler credited the attitude within the side of never giving up.
''That is just the character of this team. We will never give up and will work hard for each other all day.
''One thing we want to show our fans is that we are going to go to the 80th minute. We may not be the flashiest players but we are working ourselves hard for each other.''
He said backs and forwards were complementing each other but little lapses in concentration were proving costly, especially in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
''But, to our credit, we fought back hard and gave ourselves a chance, but we could not quite get there.''
He thought Osborne had scored at the end, and he was not alone in that thinking.
The match had plenty of fire and there were a couple of stoushes during the game. Crusaders openside flanker Richie McCaw, the All Black captain, was yellow carded for illegally entering a ruck just after the quarter mark of the game.
The Highlanders made the most of McCaw's absence. Hooker Ged Robinson ran a great angle to score off a ruck by the tryline and five minutes later, Malakai Fekitoa broke the Crusaders backline and the ball went to Osborne, who finished superbly.
But the Crusaders did not go away and came out steaming in the second half, going immediately ahead with a try by prop Tim Perry. When his front-row mate Nepo Laulala scored on the 50-minute mark, the Crusaders threatened to skip clear.
The Highlanders kicked a couple of penalties to remain close but massive Crusaders winger Nemani Nadolo, who was a handful all game, scored and the Crusaders were 12 points clear with quarter of an hour left.
The Highlanders came back when Fekitoa made a break and then got on the end of a movement to score.
Ben Smith added the fourth try with six minutes to go to set up a grand finish.
Fekitoa looked every inch an All Black, while flanker Shane Christie was busy and prop Kane Hames got through some work.
Referee Glen Jackson collided with Highlanders prop Chris King in the second half, cutting his cheek. He received four stitches from assistant referee and former Otago referee Ben O'Keefe after the game.
Highlanders v Crusaders
The scores
Crusaders 32
Jordan Taufua, Tim Perry, Nepo Laulala, Nemani Nadolo tries; Colin Slade 3 con, 2 pen
Highlanders 30
Ged Robinson, Patrick Osborne, Malakai Fekitoa, Ben Smith tries; Lima Sopoaga con, pen, Hayden Parker con, pen
Halftime: Highlanders 12-10
Crowd: 21,305