Rugby: O'Connor injury adds to Reds' woes in SA

James O'Connor of the Reds. Photo / Getty Images

Reds star James O'Connor has been sidelined with a calf injury, inflicting another blow to the Queenslanders on their tour of South Africa.

They will now be without their chief goalkicker and most damaging attacking player when they meet the Bulls in Johannesburg on Sunday morning.

O'Connor is expected to be available for the second match of Queensland's two-game tour, against the Cheetahs the following weekend.

It's expected O'Connor's injury will result in a minor reshuffle in which Lachie Turner will move to the wing and Karmichael Hunt will return to the starting side at fullback.

O'Connor was one of Queensland's marquee off-season signings, but injury has hampered his ability to settle into the team.

His latest setback comes after Quade Cooper's fractured scapula, which will put the Wallabies five-eighths out for the next eight weeks and is likely to force coach Richard Graham to turn to second-choice halfback Nick Frisby.

But in a rare sliver of good news for the Reds, Rob Simmons has overcome a shoulder nerve injury and will return against the Bulls.

Western Force skipper Matt Hodgson will wait at least one more week before making his comeback.

Hodgson hasn't played since tearing his hamstring in a pre-season game, and the Force have decided against rushing him back for tomorrow's clash with the Cheetahs.

The 33-year-old has returned to full training and is in line to play in next week's home game with the Stormers.

Hodgson's return can't come soon enough for the Force, who are in 13th spot after a six-match losing run.

- AAP