Sport: The Week in Review

ENGLAND'S rugby team are beaten by Ireland at Twickenham in the Five Nation's Championship while Wales, for so long the whipping boys, defeat France in Cardiff to move nearer the Grand Slam.

A glorious goal by Eric Cantona keeps Manchester United on course for the domestic treble as they repel the awkward challenge of Wimbledon in the FA Cup fifth round. However, Aston Villa become First Division Bolton's latest Premiership victims.

In the Winter Olympics Torvill and Dean's return after a 10-year absence ends with a bronze medal and the crowd's plaudits, but the judges give their vote to the young Russian pair of Oksana Gritschuk and Yevgeny Platov. Britain's disappointment is heightened by the disqualification of Nicky Gooch, the British speed skater, for charging in the 1,000 metres short-track final in which he finished in the silver medal position.

Torvill and Dean were watched by an estimated 23 million British viewers, the starter before the main course of Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding, the US soap opera on ice which had over 110 million Americans tuning in for the technical programme, won by Kerrigan.

After a promising start to the first Test in Jamaica, England's cricketers are battered into submission by the West Indies, losing by eight wickets. Amid the gloom, Graeme Hick's 96 proves he can handle pace.