Rugby: O'Connor out of depleted Force tour team

James O'Connor. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies star James O'Connor is one of four prominent Western Force backs ruled out of Friday's Super 15 rugby match against the Hurricanes in Palmerston North.

Halfback Brett Sheehan, five eighth Willie Ripia and centre Gene Fairbanks will also miss the trip across the Tasman due to injury, leaving the struggling Force to field a makeshift backline.

Coach Richard Graham said O'Connor had picked up several injury niggles in the past month and he'd decided to rest him for a week after speaking with medical staff and a specialist.

The calf injury to Ripia means the New Zealander misses the chance to play against his former Super Rugby team and leaves the Force very short in the playmaker role where O'Connor has also appeared this season.

With regular starter Sheehan out of action, the Force called up Manly captain Chris Cottee from Sydney club rugby to their tour squad.

Fortunately the Force's all-time leading try scorer, fullback/winger Cameron Shepherd, returns to action while centre Mitch Inman has also been included.

Up front Graham has the majority of his forward pack with former Hurricanes prop Tim Fairbrother coming into the squad in place of Pek Cowan who was ruled out after sustaining a broken cheekbone in last weekend's draw with the Brumbies.

The Force have also drafted in young loosehead prop Tetera Faulkner from Sydney club rugby on a short term injury replacement deal, having recently signed him for next season.

Graham said the injured quartet would be monitored to determine their availability should any of the tour party come under a fitness cloud ahead of the match against the Highlanders in Dunedin the following weekend.

"Obviously losing several quality performers in the backline, in particularly from halfback, isn't ideal but you play the hand you're dealt and well continue to prepare well for a big game against the Hurricanes on Friday night," Graham said.

"Nothing changes in terms of our expectations, we go into this game with the intent to perform to our best and get a positive result."

Western Force tour squad:-

Forwards: Richard Brown, Nathan Charles, Matt Dunning, Tim Fairbrother, Tetera Faulkner, Tom Hockings, Matt Hodgson, Kieran Longbottom, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Nathan Sharpe (capt), Ben Whittaker, Sam Wykes.

Backs: Chris Cottee, Nick Cummins, Patrick Dellit, Mitch Inman, Alfie Mafi, Rory Sidey, David Smith, Cameron Shepherd, James Stannard, Mark Swanepoel.

- AAP