Ryan Jones impressed at lock for the Ospreys in the Heineken Cup

Ospreys coach Sean Holley believes it would be a "natural progression" for back-row Ryan Jones to convert to lock.

The Wales and British and Irish Lions player, 29, started in the second row for the Ospreys' Heineken Cup win over London Irish last weekend.

However, Wales coach Warren Gatland says that at international level he sees Jones continuing in the back-row.

"The way the game is going now you need an athletic, versatile back five. Ryan is exactly that," Holley told Scrum V.

"He is a great line-out forward, technically one of our best.

"Around the field he can ball-carry. His numbers at the tackle contest for us are huge, a huge contribution for us. Very athletic in the air in terms of kick-offs and covers the field, so he is a great asset to us."

With the likes of Jerry Collins, Marty Holah and Jonathan Thomas on the Ospreys' books, competition for a starting place in the back-row is fierce.

I know Ryan Jones has played there but we see him as a back-row forward Wales coach Warren Gatland

Jones missed the start of the season with a knee injury suffered on Wales' summer tour to New Zealand and has seen Alun Wyn Jones - his partner at lock last Friday - confirmed as Ospreys captain in his absence from the field.

"With strength in depth like Jonathan Thomas playing well in the back-row and some good young players coming through [Ryan Jones in the second row] has to be an option for us," Holley added.

Last season the Ospreys often played Thomas at lock to incorporate Jones in the back-row, but it seems the roles are reversed this campaign.

But Gatland says that while both players have impressed him at lock, he wants the pair to challenge for Wales places in their natural back-row positions.

"The thing with Ryan Jones I think is plain and simple to me - he had been injured, he had a few 30 minute spells at loose forward, he played second row at the weekend. I thought he was outstanding in the second row, played really well," Gatland said.

"It's the first time I have seen him play in the second row. I know he has played there but we see him as a back-row forward.

"We have had the same conversation with Jonathan Thomas as well. We know he has played in the second row for the Ospreys and has done well but on the international stage we don't see him or Ryan as second rowers.

"We know they can cover there, but primarily as loose forwards."

Gatland has also said that Jones is perhaps not quite big enough to be an international lock, but Holley believes there is very little to distinguish him.

"That is a coach's prerogative is to make those statements and decisions, we have all got opinions," Holley added.

"When you stand Ryan Jones next to Jonathan Thomas they are pretty comparable and Jonathan played in the second row for Wales last year.

"He is deceptive Ryan. When you see him standing around next to Goughy [Ian Gough] and Jonathan Thomas, and Alun Wyn [Jones] he is not far off.

"Sometimes it's a trade-off isn't it? We played Jonathan at five last year as a needs-must with Ian being out.

"This year due to Ryan's injury and the way and the way, perhaps, his career is going - and Ian Gough can't play forever - that would be the natural progression for us."

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