Rugby: Penalty count a weak point

The Chiefs top the chart of average penalties conceded per game, with Liam Messam (middle) the worst individual offender. Photo / Getty Images

Discipline in World Cup knockout matches is key, as the All Blacks have proved at the past two tournaments, so the fact that three of their number are among the most penalised in Super Rugby probably won't reassure ahead of their title defence.

Liam Messam leads the way with 21 penalties and one yellow card, with Ben Franks (18 penalties) and Richie McCaw (17 penalties, plus one yellow card) also high-profile offenders.

Messam gave away five penalties in the defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne a month ago, a match in which he was also sinbinned, with McCaw again enduring an unhappy night in Sydney during the Crusaders' loss to the Waratahs a fortnight ago when he was yellow carded.

Not surprisingly, perhaps, Messam's Chiefs team and McCaw's Crusaders are the most penalised in the competition.

Different teams, different referees, different stage, and all that, but the frequency of the decisions going against players such as Messam and McCaw, who as loose forwards must push boundaries at the breakdown, should be a cause for concern ahead of the big show in England this year.

Perception is just as important as reality - especially where home supporters are concerned.

If the All Blacks play England at Twickenham in October - and the final is the only time they can meet if they both top their pools - don't be surprised if McCaw gets a very hot reception, one which will undoubtedly sway the officials no matter what they might say. Lest we forget, the All Blacks got the rub of the green from ref Craig Joubert in their World Cup final victory over France four years ago, just as they didn't from Wayne Barnes against the same opposition four years earlier in Cardiff.

On their British tour last year, the All Blacks were on the wrong side of the penalty count against England at Twickenham (14-10) and Wales at the Millennium Stadium (10-8).

Their only success in terms of the referee came at the hands of Romain Poite in Murrayfield where Steve Hansen's men conceded only seven to Scotland's 10.

Most of Messam's and McCaw's penalties this Super Rugby season have come at the contentious breakdown area, with many of Franks' coming at scrum time.

Wyatt Crockett led in scrums last year as Super Rugby referees took a dim view of his tactics for the Crusaders at loosehead prop, but this year has escaped relatively unscathed.