ON THE SPOT: Referee Kawana Tihema signals for a penalty kick.PHOTO/FILE A-170514WCSMRUGBY4
Penalty kicks and free kicks are awarded to the non-offending team for infringements by their opponents.
The provisions for a free kick also apply when a player claims a mark inside his 22 metre line.
To successfully claim a mark, a player with one or both feet on or inside his 22m must catch the ball cleanly - no juggling - from an opponent's kick and at the same time call "Mark!"
Previously, the player had to be stationary but that provision no longer applies and they can now claim a mark while in the air.
It can also be claimed in-goal and even if the ball has touched the goal post or crossbar.
If the mark gets taken in-goal, the kick is taken on the 5m line.
Should the player who took the mark be injured and unable to kick within one minute, then a scrum is awarded at the spot with his team's put in.
The kick cannot be awarded within 5m of the opponent's goal line.
It must be taken with the ball that was in play at the time, unless the referee decides it is defective, and it can be taken in any direction.
Older readers may remember the genial Scottish fullback Andy Irvine started a trend by place kicking for touch, especially when kicking into a howling wind, but that practice has since been banned.
A goal can be scored from taking a penalty kick, but there are some conditions imposed.
If the kicker indicates he intends to kick at goal, then the decision stands and he cannot change his mind.
He has one minute from the arrival of the kicking tee - compulsory in New Zealand - to complete the kick, otherwise a scrum is awarded to the opposition.
The one minute stands even if the ball falls over and has to be replaced on the tee.
The other team must stand stationary with their hands at their sides.
All penalties and free kicks must be taken at the mark or behind it, not in front or the side, so if the kick is taken from the wrong place it is called back to the correct mark.
Players should wait until the referee makes the mark, although quick kicks are allowed provided the referee considers they are taken from the right spot.
All of the kicker's team should be behind the ball, except for a placer during a place kick in windy conditions.
If the kick is taken quickly and they are in front of the mark, they will not be penalised if they retire until onside.
This can be done by the kicker or an onside player running past them.
Such offside players of the kicker's team cannot be put onside by any action of their opponents.
Players of the infringing team must immediately run back until they are at least 10m from the mark or on their goal line if this is nearer than 10m.
If the kick is taken so quickly they do not have time to get back, they must keep on retiring until they reach that point, or a teammate who was more than 10m back from the mark can put them onside.
While retiring, the opposing players must not do anything to delay the kick or obstruct the kicker.
Common offences include taking, throwing or kicking the ball away which will result in the mark for the kick advancing another 10m.
While a goal can be scored from a penalty kick, it cannot be scored directly from a free kick.
In this case, a team cannot score a goal until after the ball is next made dead, an opponent has touched or played it, or the ball carrier has been tackled.
Another difference between the two kicks is that opponents may legally charge a free kick once the kicker starts to approach by moving forward or kicking the ball.
If the opponents legally charge and prevent the kick, a scrum is awarded to them at the mark.
At either form, if the team in possession try to make their opponents infringe again, such as the ball carrier deliberately running into a retiring opponent, the referee lets play continue.
Finally, at any penalty or free kick, the non-infringing team has the option of a scrum, which is a relatively recent change to the rules.