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The attacker recently returned from a hamstring injury, and the Barca boss will not pressure him to find top form

Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde will be patient with Ousmane Dembele as the winger looks to rediscover his form following a month out injured.

Dembele’s Barca career has been stop-start since joining from Borussia Dortmund for an initial €105 million in August 2017.

He was limited to only 24 appearances in all competitions in his first season due to injuries, and although he has managed to play 38 times this term, he has still suffered on the fitness front.

A sprained ankle saw him miss a couple of weeks of action in January and February before a hamstring tear in March ruled him out for a month.

He made his return when starting the 0-0 draw with Huesca on April 13 and lined up against Real Sociedad on Saturday. While his performances were hardly memorable, Valverde is not getting on his back.

“He played his second league game since his return the other day and he’s still getting up to pace,” Valverde told a news conference ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Deportivo Alaves.

“He’s not exactly the same as before his injury. You have to go through games before finding your place. We’ll see.

“He definitely offers us speed and if other teams play high he’s great on the counter. We can exploit that. He’s very good in one-on-ones as well.”

Dembele and Philippe Coutinho have come in for criticism during their short Barca careers and Valverde insisted every player has to earn their spot in the line-up.

“Everything is always equal between every player, no one is ahead of anyone,” Valverde said.

“Sometimes one player plays, then others play. It’s normal at every club, not just Barca. Every player has to find their place, their form and play well.

“They are two great players and sometimes one plays, sometimes both do.”

One player Valverde is certainly happy with, however, is Arthur, with the Brazilian midfielder making a seamless transition into a key player having only joined from Gremio at the start of the season.

“He’s a player who has some characteristics that fit well with the team,” the coach added. “Maybe he would’ve had more difficulties in other teams.

“He’s done very well here. He came from playing too many games, had a long-term injury last season, then playing in the national team.

“His career has taken a turn here and we hope for even more from him.”

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The campaign has been organised by the PFA in response to a number of high-profile incidents in recent months

Professional footballers in England and Wales are boycotting social media on Friday to take a stand against racism.

The #Enough campaign, organised by the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), will encourage players not to use any form of social media from 09.00 on April 19 to 09.00 on April 20.

Players have been posting the ‘#Enough’ graphic on their social media platforms that comes with the accompanying message: “We are making a stand against racist abuse.

“We recognise that our platforms come with responsibility, and so we are using our voice to stand against racist abuse. Together, we are calling on social media platforms and footballing bodies to do more!”

The PFA says the campaign is a response to a number of high-profile racist incidents directed at players in recent months and hopes to put pressure on the authorities and social media networks to better address the issue.

“The boycott is the first step in a longer campaign to tackle racism in football,” read a statement. “It acts as a show of unity by the players, and a call for stronger action to be taken by social networks and footballing authorities in response to racist abuse both on and off the pitch”

Only this week, Manchester United captain Ashley Young was subjected to racist abuse on social media  following his side’s Champions League quarter-final defeat against Barcelona.

Black England players, including Tottenham defender Danny Rose and Manchester City star Raheem Sterling, were also subjected to racist chanting during a Euro 2020 qualifier in Montenegro last month. Rose later admitted he “can’t wait” to quit football because of the way racism is handled within the game.

Speaking about the ‘#Enough’ campaign, the 28-year-old said:  “When I said that I can’t wait to see the back of football, it is because of the racism that I, and many other players, have been subjected to our entire careers. 

“Football has a problem with racism.

“I don’t want any future players to go through what I’ve been through in my career. Collectively, we are simply not willing to stand-by while too little is done by football authorities and social media companies to protect players from this disgusting abuse.”

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Watford captain Troy Deeney, who disabled comments on his Instagram account last month after being subjected to racist abuse, added:  “My team-mates and I have been on the receiving end of well-documented abuse from a minority of narrow-minded, ignorant people both on social media and on the pitch.

“Any racism in football is too much, and it’s essential that we fight it wherever and whenever we see it.

“On Friday we are sending a message to anyone that abuses players – or anyone else – whether from the crowd or online, that we won’t tolerate it within football. 

“The boycott is just one small step, but the players are speaking out with one voice against racism – enough is enough.”

The Spurs midfielder was disappointed with his side’s performance in Tuesday’s match, especially their first-half display

Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen was frustrated with his side’s display in Tuesday’s 1-0 defeat to Ajax , saying his team made their opponents look better than they are. 

A shorthanded Spurs side failed to muster much of a threat in the Champions League semi-final first leg, as Donny van de Beek’s first-half strike put Ajax on the verge of their first final since 1996. 

Despite injuries and suspension robbing Tottenham of several key players including Harry Kane and Son Heung-min, Eriksen was still fuming with the way his side performed – especially in the first half.  

“We were under-par, we didn’t play our best at all,” Eriksen, who played for Ajax between 2010 and 2013, told BT Sport .

“In the first 20 minutes, we were ball-watchers. We need to change it up a lot for the next game.

“We made them look a lot better than they are. Of course they’re a good side but I think we helped them on their way to give them the feeling that they can control things, which was our fault. 

“At the start, the system didn’t matter. The change gave us a different way to press, to play more direct. But we were still far from where we know we can be.

“No one wanted to play the first half we did. Everyone knew we didn’t compete. We still lost, but we were better in the second half.

“Second half was different, we played more direct and we hurt them a lot more, but we needed the last touch.”

Though Tottenham were shorthanded prior to the match and then lost Jan Vertonghen to a head injury in the first half, the Denmark international wasn’t interested in injury excuses. 

“We can’t keep talking about injured players. In a semi-final it doesn’t matter who plays, we have to step up,” Eriksen said.  

Eriksen felt his side were fortunate to see David Neres hit the post in the second half, which will give Spurs some encouragement heading into next week’s second leg at the Johan Cruyff Arena.  

“We’re lucky they hit the post and hopefully we can turn things around in Amsterdam,” the 27-year-old said. 

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The Portugal international was rested for the final Serie A game against Sampdoria, but top-scorer Fabio Quagliarella did play in Genoa

Cristiano Ronaldo will not add the Serie A Golden Boot to his haul of awards after his first season in Italy.

Ronaldo was rested and did not take the field in Juventus’ final Serie A game against Sampdoria on Sunday and thus could not add to his tally of 21 goals in the competition.

He finished fourth in the table behind Fabio Quagliarella, Duvan Zapata of Atalanta and Krzysztof Piatek, who netted 26, 23 and 22 respectively.

The winner of the Golden Boot was on the pitch at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa though. 36-year-old Quagliarella of Sampdoria scooped the gong for his tally of 26 goals, adding hardware to an astonishing late-career renaissance.

While he didn’t add the Golden Boot, Ronaldo did win the Serie A Player of the Year award for his individual performances, and his team won their eighth straight Scudetto.

Ronaldo became the first player to win titles in England, Spain and Italy with the Bianconeri’s triumph.

He is also the only player to win Player of the Year in each of those countries.

However, the Portugal international has only scored twice in the Italian top-flight since mid-February and his total of 21 goals is his lowest in a season since he scored 18 for Manchester United in the Premier League a decade ago.

Quagliarella had never scored more than 20 goals in a season before this year, with his highest previous total being 19 in the 2017-18 season.

His performances this year saw him win a shock recall into the Italian set-up.

He was called up by Roberto Mancini for Euro 2020 qualification matches with Finland and Liechtenstein, and his start in the second game was his first competitive game for the Azzuri since 2010. He scored twice, becoming Italy’s oldest ever goalscorer.

Atalanta’s Zapata also had his first 20-goal season this year, with his previous high being 11 in 2017-18 while appearing alongside Quagliarella for Sampdoria.

Zapata scored his 23rd of the year in Atalanta’s final game, which his team won to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Meanwhile, Piatek enjoyed a brilliant debut season in Serie A, scoring 13 goals in just 19 games for Genoa.

Those performances caught the eye of Milan, with Piatek netting nine times in 18 games following a January move to San Siro.

Piatek’s goals were not enough for Milan to qualify for the Champions League as a late Inter winner consigned them to the Europa League.

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The 36-year-old is eager to move into coaching after hanging up his gloves, with there not too many others to have made that transition

Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho and current Wolves manager Nuno are providing inspiration for Lee Grant as the experienced goalkeeper plots a career change.

At 36 years of age, a man currently on the books at Old Trafford is approaching the end of his playing days.

He acknowledges as much and is already starting to piece together plans for when the day comes to hang up his gloves.

Grant is eager to get into coaching and buck the trend when it comes to shot-stoppers making a successful transition from a life between the sticks to that in the dugout.

“It is strange that you don’t see a huge amount of goalkeepers making it into top-level management,” Grant told United’s official website.

“Yes, Jose Mourinho played in goal and Mike Walker the old Norwich manager. The Wolves manager Nuno – he was a goalkeeper. Kevin Blackwell. There have been a few. But, obviously, the Wolves boss, Nuno, is probably a shining example of it in this day and age. A goalkeeper turned head coach. So, obviously, that’s a path I wouldn’t mind following.

“Us goalkeepers are a bit more difficult as, to be a goalkeeper coach, you have to have your goalkeeping badges as well. For me, it’s something I would want to do naturally anyway, coaching and management, and I mean the whole team, as it’s something I’ve really had my eye on.”

While expressing a desire to prolong his association with football once heading into retirement, Grant admits that he has not always sought to head down such a career path.

He added: “Strangely, in the earlier part of my career, coaching was something I was always dead against.

“I could never see myself in that role whereas, as I got to 26 or 27, my views changed on that dramatically.

“I’m completely the opposite now. It’s something I’m really looking forward to getting into and, hopefully, management at some stage. I’d really love to be part of a coaching team and, as I say, eventually lead a team. That would be the ideal scenario for me.

“I think something changed when I went back to Derby for the second time. I was working with Steve McClaren and I just saw the way he worked. I actually saw, first hand how a change in manager can have such a dramatic impact on a football club, and on a team of players. It really opened my eyes to it. So getting an opportunity to do that in the future, I’m really looking forward to that moment.

“I’ve had some excellent role models. For me, though, you learn just as much from the ones you don’t necessarily agree with, the ones you don’t see eye-to-eye with, or the ones whose methods you don’t like. You learn as much from those as you do from the ones you’ve really enjoyed working with, the ones you’ve studied and the ones you trust and believe in.

“So there is lots to learn and I am trying to pick up as much as I can. I feel like I’m in a wonderful position to do that at the football club I am at, at the moment.”

Grant is currently third-choice keeper at United behind David de Gea and Sergio Romero.

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Round three of Super Rugby is here and the Reds, Rebels and Brumbies will be in action with the Waratahs on a bye.

Take a look at everything you need to know about the third round, including times and teams and television scheduling.

SCHEDULE

All times AEDT.

Friday March 1

5pm – FOX SPORTS coverage commences with “Kick-Off”, with Lou Ransome, Sean Maloney, Drew Mitchell and Stephen Hoiles 

5:35pm – Hurricanes vs Brumbies, Palmerston North, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO

7:45pm – Rebels vs Highlanders, AAMI Park, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO

7.30pm – FOX SPORTS coverage continues with “Kick On”

Saturday March 2

3pm – FOX SPORTS begins “Super Saturday” coverage, with host Nick McArdle.

5:35pm – Chiefs vs Sunwolves, Waikato, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO

7:45pm – Reds vs Crusaders, LIVE on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO

Sunday March 3

12.05am – Lions vs Bulls, Emirates Park, Johannesburg, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Kayo Sports

2.15am – Sharks vs Stormers, Kings Park, Durban, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Kayo Sports

8.40am – Jaguares v Blues , Buenos Aires, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and Kayo Sports

Bye –Waratahs 

Hurricanes vs Brumbies

TEAMS

Hurricanes to play Brumbies

Chris Eves, Dane Coles, Ben May, James Blackwell, Liam Mitchell, Vaea Fifita, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Ben Lam, Ngani laumape, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Chase Tiatia. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Numia, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Reed Prinsep,  Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Wes Goosen

Brumbies to play Hurricanes

Scott Sio, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Rory Arnold, Blake Enever, Pete Samu, David Pocock, Lachlan McCaffrey, Joe Powell, Christian Lealiifano, Chance Peni, Irae Simone, Tevita Kuridrani, Andy Muirhead, Tom Banks. Reserves: Josh Mann-Rea, James Slipper, Leslie Leauluaialii-Makin, Darcy Swain, Tom Cusack, Matt Lucas, Wharenui Hawera, Tom Wright.

REFEREES

Referee:  Nick Briant

Assistant Ref 1: Federico Anselmi

Assistant Ref 2:  Nick Hogan

TMO :  Aaron Paterson

ODDS

Courtesy of Bet365

Hurricanes $1.22

Brumbies $4.35

REBELS vs HIGHLANDERS

TEAMS

Tetera Faulkner, Anaru Rangi, Sam Talakai, Luke Jones, Matt Philip, Angus Cottrell, Brad Wilkin, Isi Naisarani, Will Genia, Quade Cooper, Marika Koroibete, Billy Meakes, Tom English, Jack Maddocks, Dane Haylett-Petty. Reserves: Robbie Abel, Matt Gibbon, Jermaine Ainsley, Adam Coleman, Richard Hardwick, Rob Leota, Michael Ruru, Reece Hodge

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Highlanders to face Rebels

Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ash Dixon, Siate Tokolahi, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Shannon Frizell, James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Bryn Gatland, Josh McKay, Teihorangi Walden, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Waisake Naholo, Josh Ioane. Reserves: Ricky Jackson, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Tom Franklin, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Patelesio Tomkinson, Marty Banks

REFEREES

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Assistant Ref 1: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Ref 2:  Damon Murphy

TMO :  Ian Smith

ODDS

Rebels – $1.78

Highlanders – $2.05

CHIEFS vs SUNWOLVES

TEAMS

Chiefs to play Sunwolves

Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Angus Ta’avao, Brodie Retallick, Michael Allardice, Mitchell Brown, Mitchell Karpik, Taleni Seu, Brad Weber, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Orbyn Leger, Tumua Manu, Sean Wainui, Shaun Stevenson. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Tevita Mafileo, Sosefo Kautai, Jesse Parete, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Alex Nankivell, Ataata Moeakiola

Sunwolves to play Chiefs

Pauliasi Manu, Atsushi Sakate, Hiroshi Yamashita, Luke Thompson, Uwe Helu, Hendrik Tui, Shuhei Matsuhashi, Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, Kaito Shigeno, Hayden Parker, Jamie Henry, Michael Little, Shane Gates, Jason Emery. Reserves: Nathan Vella, Sam Prattley, Asaeli Ai Valu, Tom Rowe, James Moore, Jamie Booth, Phil Burleigh, Rikiya Matsuda

REFEREES

Referee: Federico Anselmi

Assistant Ref 1: Nick Briant

Assistant Ref 2:  Dan Waenga

TMO: Shane McDermott

ODDS

Chiefs $1.03

Sunwolves $12.00

REDS vs CRUSADERS

TEAMS

Reds to play Crusaders

Feao Fotuaika, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Izack Rodda, Harry Hockings, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Liam Wright, Angus Scott-Young, Moses Sorovi, Hamish Stewart, Sefa Naivalu, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Bryce Hegarty, Reserves: Alex Mafi, JP Smith, Ruan Smith, Caleb Timu, Scott Higginbotham, Tate McDermott, Duncan Paia’aua, Isaac Lucas

Crusaders to play Reds

Joe Moody, Andrew Makalio, Owen Franks, Scott Barrett, Quinten Strange, Tom Sanders, Matt Todd, Whetu Douglas, Mitch Drummond, Richie Mounga, George Bride, Tim Bateman, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Will Jordan. Reserves: Ben Funnell, Harry Allan, Michael Alaalatoa, Luke Romano, Jordan Taufua, Bryn Hall, Mitchell Hunt, David Havili.

REFEREES

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Ref 1: AJ Jacobs

Assistant Ref 2: Damon Murphy

TMO: George Ayoub

ODDS

Reds $5.00

Crusaders $1.17

LIONS vs BULLS

TEAMS

Lions to play Bulls

Dylan Smith, Malcolm Marx, Carlu Sadie, Rhyno Herbst, Stephan Lewies, Kwagga Smith, Marnus Schoeman, Hacjivah Dayimani, Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, Ruan Combrinck, Andries Coetzee. Reserves: Pieter Jansen, Sti Sithole, Frans van Wyk, Robert Kruger, Vincent Tshituka, Ross Cronje, Franco Naude, Courtnall Skosan.

Bulls to play Lions

Lizo Gqoboka, Schalk Brits, Trevor Nyakane, Jason Jenkins, Eli Snyman, Ruan Steenkamp, Hanro Liebenberg, Duane Vermuelen, Embrose Papier, Handre Pollard, Rosko Specman, Dylan Sage, Jesse Kriel, Cornal Hendricks, Warrick Gelant, Reserves: Corniel Els, Simphiwe Matanzima, Dayan van der Westhuizen, Jannes Kirsten, Tim Agaba, Ivan van Zyl, Manie Libbok, Divan Rossouw

REFEREES

Referee: Paul Williams

Assistant Ref 1: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant Ref 2: Griffon Colby

TMO: Marius Jonker

ODDS

Lions $1.38 

Bulls $3.10

SHARKS vs STORMERS

TEAMS

Sharks to play Stormers

Tendai Mtawarira, Akker van der Merwe, Coenie Oosthuizen, Hyron Andrews, Ruan Botha, Jacques Vermeulen, Tyler Paul, Daniel du Preez, Louis Schreuder (C), Robert du Preez, Makazole Mapimpi, Andre Esterhuizen, Lukhanyo Am, Sbu Nkosi, Aphelele Fassi, Reserves: Kerron van Vuuren, Juan Schoeman, Thomas du Toit, Gideon Koegelenberg, Phepsi Buthelezi, Cameron Wright, Jeremy Ward, Curwin Bosch

Stormers to play Sharks

Ali Vermaak, Bongi Mbonambi, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth, JD Shickerling, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sikhumbuzo NOtshe, Herschel Jantjies, Jean-Luc du Plesis, SP marais, Damian de Allende, Dan du Plessis, Sergeal Petersen, Damian Willemse. Reserves: Scarra Ntubeni, Corne Fourie, Wilco Louw, Chris van Zyl, Jaco Coetzee, Justin Phillips, Ruhan Nel, Dillyn Leyds

REFEREES

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistant Ref 1: Egon Seconds

Assistant Ref 2: Divan Uys

TMO: Willie Vos

ODDS

Sharks $1.42

Stormers $2.90

JAGUARES vs BLUES

TEAMS

Jaguares to play Blues

Mayco Vivas, Agustin Creevy, Santiago Medrano, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Javier Ortega Desio, Tomas Cubelli, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Ramiro Moyano, Matias Orlando, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy, Juan Cruz Mallia. Reserves: Julian Montoya, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Enrique Pieretti, Matias Alemanno, Rodrigo Bruni, Martin Landajo, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Joaquin Tuculet

Blues to play Jaguares

Alex Hodgman, James Parsons, Ofa Tuungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Goodhue, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Augustine Pulu, Otere Black, Rieko Ioane, Maa Nonu TJ Falane, Tanielu Telea, Melani Nanai. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Karl Tuinukuafe, Sione Mafileo, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Matt Matich, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, Sonny Bill Williams

REFEREES

Referee:Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser

Assistant Ref 2: Brendon Pickerill

TMO: Santiago Borsani

ODDS

Jaguares $1.72

Blues $2.15

Brumbies coach Dan McKellar believes the side’s strong recent record in Africa will see them past the Stormers in Cape Town.

The 3-5 Brumbies endured a sluggish start to the Super Rugby season but kicked their campaign alive with a thumping win against the Lions last week.

They must on Saturday take down another South African powerhouse to keep the momentum going, but this time on the road.

They’ll then travel to Argentina to face the Jaguares, but McKellar said his team had proven travel doesn’t faze them.

“It’s a tough place to win but we’ve won here plenty of times before, we won a quarterfinal here (in 2015) and toured well last year,” McKellar said.

“We beat the Bulls in Pretoria and we were in front against the Lions before we got a red and yellow card. The year previous to that we won in South Africa and beat the Jags on the road as well.

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“It’s a tough challenge touring, but obviously travel doesn’t scare us.”

The 4-4 Stormers return to Newlands with plenty of confidence after taking down the Australian Conference-leading Rebels in Melbourne last week.

The Stormers boast one of the burliest packs in Super Rugby but McKellar still opted for a 3-5 bench and backed his forwards to muscle up.

“They are a big side with a good scrum and maul, so we’ll have to front up physically and make sure that we are dominating the collisions where possible and defend well,” McKellar said.

“Hopefully we can create some opportunities in attack and when you get them you’ve got to take them.”

Brumbies flanker David Pocock (calf) will miss his fifth straight game but McKellar was confident he’d play against the Jaguares.

The Reds have been left to lament what might have been after failing to treasure the ball in their 32-17 loss to the Bulls in Pretoria.

Striving for their first win in South Africa since 2015, the Reds came up against a wounded Bulls outfit determined to rebound from a nail-biting home loss to the Jaguares.

And while they opened the scoring through an early penalty goal, there was little other reward for the Reds in the opening half, with the Bulls controlling possession and field position.

“It was a tough game to watch,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.

“Credit to the Bulls, they’ve had some tough weeks, so that’s a good win for them and they did some good stuff out there tonight.

“For us it was very frustrating.

“You can’t win games of footy when you’re turning over the ball that much.

“In the first half I thought we were lucky to be 10 points behind, we hardly had any footy.
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“Second half was slightly improved but we still didn’t look after that footy.”

While Handre Pollard became the first Super Rugby player this season to score 100 points, the Reds remained in touch at the break after he missed two first-half conversions.

But they were immediately on the back foot when Pollard raced over to score within a minute of the re-start, converting his try to extend the Bulls’ lead to 20-3 and making the Reds’ mission even more difficult.

The Reds built into the game though and when Samu Kerevi scored the first of his two tries in the 57th minute, the margin was back to just 10 points and the Reds had a sniff.

Having been over-run by the Jaguares just a week earlier, the Bulls would have been nervous but the Reds could not maintain enough possession to build pressure.

“At halftime it was on us, if we could pull ourselves together and get our stuff going, we could have a competitive game and an opportunity to win the game,” Thorn said.

“But you’ve got to treasure that ball, you’ve got to look after it.

“At the breakdown, there were quite a few turnovers and messy ball, it was frustrating.

“The Bulls just looked after things better than we did and created some opportunities and they did have some errors as well, which is frustrating as a visiting team.

“There were some opportunities there for us if we were clinical and build our game.

“Every game’s tough in Super Rugby and if you turn up off your game, you get beat – especially coming to Pretoria.”

The Bulls pushed the margin out again with tries to Hanro Liebenberg and winger Jade Stighling in the six minutes after Kerevi’s effort and while the Queensland captain scored again in the 68th minute, it was too little, too late from the Reds.

“There were a few tries in the last 20 (minutes) that (were poor),” Thorn said.

“The bench generally come on for us and add something but it was just a really disappointing night.”

The Reds head to Durban to face the Sharks on Saturday.

RESULT

Bulls 32

Tries: Gqoboka, van Staden, Pollard, Liebenberg, Stighling

Cons: Pollard 2

Pens: Pollard

Reds 17

Tries: Kerevi 2

Cons: Hegarty 2

Pens: Hegarty

Matt To’omua will start off the bench for his Rebels debut after Quade Cooper passed concussion tests and was named at no.10 for Friday’s clash against the Bulls in Melbourne.

To’omua has been named at no.23 in coach Dave Wessels’ squad to face the Bulls at AAMI Park on Friday night but Melbourne will be without backrowers Luke Jones and Isi Naisarani, who are both battling injury.

Jones has a fracture in his eye socket and Naisarani has an injured toe.

Wessels said he was thankful to Leicester for releasing To’omua, who can’t play in the finals but can take pressure of Cooper having to play every minute as they battle for the Australian conference win and a place in the Super Rugby finals.

“As we build to the back end of the season, being able to relieve some pressure off Quade having to play every single minute is very helpful,” Wessels said.

“Matt’s got the opportunity to come off the bench and make an impression and we’ll take it from there.”

To’omua arrived in Australia a week early after the Rebels sent an SOS following Cooper’s concussion, suffered against the Reds last week.

“He was coming next week anyway, so it’s only a couple of days early but when Quade went down, right after the game we weren’t sure how he’d pull up and thankfully Leicester were very accommodating and understanding of where we were at,” Wessels said.

“It happened pretty quickly but it’s nice to have him.”

But Wessels will not pigeon-hole To’omua as simply Cooper’s back-up.

“He’s played a fair bit of 12 and he’s played a bit of 15 as well at Leicester,” he said.

“That nature of Super Rugby is that you need a strong squad and if you think how our squad’s progressed over the last 18 months and how we’re building … there’s a lot of really positive things happening.

“One thing I’ve learnt in my career is better players make better coaches, so we try and get the best players that we can and we’re delighted that those players want to come and play in Melbourne.”

Naisarani has an injured toe and could miss the next fortnight, although Wessels described the break as a “blessing in disguise” for the workhorse.

“He probably needs a bit of a break anyway, although he’s been playing really well for us,” Wessels said. “We’re lucky that we’ve got some depth in the back five in the scrum.”

Jones has a hairline fracture in his eye socket, a problem that initially went undiagnosed post-match.

“He didn’t realise he did it until he blew his nose and it swelled up a bit,” said Wessels, confirming his backrower could also miss two weeks.

“But Ross Haylett-Petty was excellent last week, he played with a lot of intensity and seemed to be really enjoying his game and we all know what a soldier Matt Philip has been for us this year.

“Both of those guys are covering us at lock pretty well and it’s great to have Sam Jeffries back from injury.

“We’re lucky to have Dickie Hardwick back, who’s a Wallaby. He’s been a bit unlucky with injury this year but I thought he was excellent against the Waratahs when we played and then unfortunately bumped his ankle in training. But he was really good off the bench last week.

“And in Robbie (Leota) and Gus (Cottrell), we get some great go-forward from Robbie and a huge workrate, as always, from Gus.”

The Rebels take on the Bulls at AAMI Park on Friday, May 16, kicking off at 7:45pm AEST, live on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au radio.

TEAMS

Rebels to face Bulls

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1. Tetera Faulkner

2. Anaru Rangi

3. Jermaine Ainsley

4. Ross Haylett-Petty

5. Matt Philip

6. Angus Cottrell (vc)

7. Richard Hardwick

8. Rob Leota

9. Will Genia

10. Quade Cooper

11. Marika Koroibete

12. Billy Meakes

13. Reece Hodge

14. Jack Maddocks

15. Dane Haylett-Petty (c)

Reserves:

16. Hugh Roach

17. Matt Gibbon

18. Sam Talakai

19. Sam Jeffries

20. Pone Fa’amausili

21. Michael Ruru

22. Campbell Magnay

23. Matt To’omua

Their highlight as a halves pairing may have come nearly eight years ago when they helped the Reds to a Super Rugby title but Will Genia says he has never lowered his expectations of Quade Cooper as the pair head back to Suncorp Stadium to do battle with Queensland.

After being rested from the second leg of the Rebels’ tour of South Africa, Genia said he was “jumping out of my skin” to play this week.

And while he insists his sole focus is helping the Rebels bounce back after their winless South African tour, Genia knows the spotlight will be on his and Cooper’s return to their old stomping ground.

Genia made his return against the Reds in the opening round of Super Rugby last year.

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But he missed the Rebels’ game at Suncorp Stadium and while he insists it’s not a focus for him or Cooper, he understands the attention that will come their way.

“I played them here in round one last year and it was a really good contest, I missed out on the game at Suncorp last year but I’m really looking forward to it,” he said.

“It’s obviously a place that’s had really good memories for me on a personal level and being part of a winning Queensland Reds team but that chapter’s closed and it’s all about working hard this week to make sure that we get a result for this club and this organisation and the group.”

Genia remains popular in his home state and he believes Cooper will also receive a favourable reception from fans.

“At the end of the day he didn’t leave on bad terms with the Queensland public and the Reds fans,” he said of the mercurial flyhalf.

“His focus hasn’t been on what it’s going to be like and personal battles and who he’s coming up against.

“It’s just a case of him doing his job within our team to make sure we get a result so that we bounce back positively from our tour in South Africa.”

Unwanted by Reds coach Brad Thorn, Cooper played a full season of club rugby last year but has reignited his career with the Rebels, with his Super Rugby form surprising many given his sabbatical.

It came as no shock to Genia though.

“I hold him in pretty high regard. I never lowered my expectations in terms of what he brings to the game and a team on and off the field,” he said.

“I’ve just been so grateful to have the opportunity to play with him again and see the impact that he’s had on the group – not only on the field but off the field.

“He’s got so much knowledge and understanding of how to play the game and his impact on the  field in terms of how we want to play – his communication, his organisation, he’s added so much value to the group.”

There’s no doubt Cooper would love to celebrate a win on Saturday but Genia said his mate had not had the date circled on the calendar.

“If it is something different, I haven’t noticed it,” he said of Cooper’s preparation for his Queensland return.

“He’s brought the same intensity, the same work ethic, the same qualities that he brings to each and every session every week.”

Having played with and against each other since they were 15-year-old schoolboys, Genia and Cooper know each other’s game inside out.

“It’s (a relationship) built on respect – he respects how I see the game, I respect how he sees the game.

“So if he makes a decision, I back it; if I make a decision, he backs it.

“And the nature of the way we want to play the game, a lot of the direction comes from the nine and 10, so I guess in term of that leadership, we try to drive the game and how we want to play.”

The clash against the Reds is looming as a good test given the similarities between the clubs’ playing styles.

“We probably play a similar brand of footy to be honest,” Genia said.

“They obviously have slight differences in the way they approach the game based on their personnel.

“But knowing (Reds attack coach) Jimmy Mackay having worked with him when I was at the Reds all those years ago, he likes to play an attacking brad of footy where they move the ball quickly and they play at pace.

“It was quite good to watch in patches when they played the Brumbies last week.”

The Rebels take on the Reds at Suncorp Stadium, on Saturday, March 30, at 7:45pm AEDT (6:45pm local), LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.