Alun Wyn Jones unhappy with Marty Holah's fortnight ban

Ospreys skipper Alun Wyn Jones has criticised the Welsh Rugby Union for banning Marty Holah for two weeks.

Holah was cited following the Ospreys' Magners League win over Edinburgh for tripping Chris Paterson off the ball.

A WRU disciplinary panel handed Holah a fortnight ban on Tuesday.

"If we start two-week banning people who are going to obstruct during kick-chases there is going to be a lot of players missing for long periods of the season," said Jones.

"He's not going to be there for the weekend. Bitterly disappointed about that."

The Ospreys had been considering appealing against the ban for the challenge on Paterson, who subsequently left the field with a leg injury.

The Ospreys head to Thomond Park, Limerick for the first leg of an important Heineken Cup double header against Munster, not only without Holah but injured duo Lee Byrne (broken thumb) and Shane Williams (dislocated shoulder).

The Munster match has become even more crucial for the Ospreys after failing to beat Toulon away.

And Jones knows his Ospreys side, who have yet to get past the quarter-final stage of the Heineken Cup, will be in for a warm Irish welcome on Saturday.

"At Thomond Park they have a rich vein of history out there with Irish rugby and the players they have. So going out there is going to be a tough ask and one we are relishing," added Jones.

"We know there is going to be a formidable atmosphere with a devoted and passionate crowd, so we are relishing the game and see what we can get for it.

"We were very unhappy with ourselves [and] kicking ourselves about Toulon. We got a bonus point but if we [had a win there] we would know where we are going into these games [against Munster]."

Munster will be boosted by the return Lions lock Paul O'Connell, a player Jones has the utmost respect for.

"The words you'd associate with him are talisman, icon. He is a great player and if he comes in I'm sure he will make a marked difference to the side.

"I think It's the mark of the man that he requested to play for Young Munster - the team he started with - rather than going straight back into the Munster side and taking a place away from his fellow provincial men.

"So he has got a lot of respect for the rugby he plays and the side he represents."

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