Carter Gordon of the Rebels and Cabous Eloff of the Rebels celebrate the round 5 win.Credit:Getty
The Reds were the most penalised Super Rugby Pacific team last season but McReight said they only had themselves to blame if the “50-50″ decisions weren’t going their way.
“A lot of the penalties have just been stupid and totally in our control,” he said.
“If we’re able to eradicate those stupid penalties on our end,it makes it a lot easier for refs to make those 50-50 calls land on our side.
“There needs to be an onus and accountability from the playing group;it can’t just be an elephant in the room.”
McReight knows a response against the Crusaders,who have lost games to the Chiefs and Fijian Drua this season,would serve two purposes in a World Cup year.
“It’s an opportunity to stamp their jersey and their worth,” McReight said of playing the Crusaders.
“We haven’t had that,‘You know what? We’re proud of the performance’ ... We haven’t had that yet and it’s the perfect opportunity.
“That’s in the forefront of mind,compared to the Wallabies but if we can do that it’s going to be a domino effect of it.
“They are the world’s best and we do want to win. Imagine if we knock them off,what’s everyone going to say?”
The task will be made tougher with Wallabies centre Hunter Paisami likely to miss at least one month with a knee injury,although Angus Blyth (ankle) could return.
Meanwhile,recruit and former Test lock Luke Jones remains sidelined with a neck issue,the club keen to avoid surgery in the hope he shows improvement and features at some point this season.
AAP