Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan said that sort of thing had been seen last year and things had soon settled down. He was expecting an improvement against the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Sunday.
Ryan said penalties were a theme for all sides and offsides were something that referees were searching for.
"The ARs [assistant referees] are all wired up, they're trying to get everyone onside and it is consistent, so that's all you can ask for," he said.
The Crusaders were looking for game management and understanding their pressure. They had learnt a lot with that against the Highlanders and had let their foot off the throat but they had dealt with that and were looking ahead.
"If we're talking about it on Monday then we've got a bit of an issue," he said.
They had been using a local referee at their training to help with issues.
"We need to be harder on the boys at training to set them up to succeed. It'll help on the training field putting those things into place because the ARs are just searching for it, the offside lines, and that's great, as long as it's consistent, which, to be fair, it has.
"A lot of people blame the referees but in all honesty they're just doing what they're told to do and they've been real clear on it," he said.
Ryan said he had been involved in a frank discussion with prop Joe Moody who referee Ben O'Keefe, upon review, said should have been yellow-carded for a retaliatory action early in last weekend's game.
Moody had taken it on the chin and along with the rest of the pack was looking forward to getting back into action at the weekend, he said.