Good week, bad week

England rugby
Winger Chris Ashton scored two tries to help England fly to a 26-19 win over Wales in the Six Nations. Toby Flood also kicked 13 points and team-mate Johnny Wilkinson posted a penalty as England triumphed. "I am happy with the win as that's what we came here for," reflected England head coach Martin Johnson.

BAD WEEK

Robert Kubica
The Formula 1 driver suffered fractures to his right arm, leg and hand after enduring a rally crash in Italy on Sunday morning.

The 26-year-old struck a church wall and was then air-lifted by helicopter to a hospital near Genoa. As a result, Kubica may miss the start of the F1 season, which begins in Bahrain on 13 March.

"Surgeons are trying to re-establish the functionality of his right hand," Kubica's manager, Daniele Morelli, said. "Robert is very strong and he will do it."

Roberto Di Matteo
Following West Brom's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Baggies boss Di Matteo was given the sack.

"I was extremely surprised and disappointed to be relieved of my duties," Di Matteo said via the League Managers Association.

"Roberto di Matteo represents yet another victim of the 'hire & fire' mentality that pervades the game," opined the LMA's Richard Bevan. "It's a great shame."

England's one-day side
England suffered a disappointing 57-run loss to Australia at Perth in the final one-day international, meaning the hosts wrapped up a comprehensive 6-1 series win. To make matters worse, Eoin Morgan broke his finger and may miss the forthcoming World Cup. After winning the Ashes in glorious fashion, England will have to call on all their character in the coming months.

Blackpool
The Tangerines will be lauded come the end of the season for consistently playing attacking football and making their supporters smile. But their recent poor run of form has seen them slip to 15th in the league.

In fact, aside from beating Liverpool 2-1 last month, Ian Holloway's men have lost eight of nine games in 2011. Credit to Holloway, though, for keeping positive.

Asked about the rollercoaster ride of emotions he had to endure during his team's loss, Holloway said: "It was fantastic! That's what life's all about."

But winning games is also what survival is about, and Holloway realises his side's defence needs to improve. "Some of that defending I'm quite embarrassed about, we've got to sort that out," he said.

Pakistan trio
The three Pakistan cricket players embroiled in the spot-fixing scandal have finally been punished; Salman Butt was given a 10-year ban, Mohammad Asif a seven-year ban and 18-year-old Mohammad Amir a five-year ban.

Amir, in particular, was hugely emotional when asked how he felt about the ban. "Cricket has given me everything and if I don't play it I have nothing," he said. "I left education to play cricket and I have nothing other than cricket."