This week in Independent

Edinburgh festival

The Auld Enemies meet at Murrayfield on Saturday with the hitherto rampant Scots on the rail of the Grand Slam. England have recalled their talismanic hero, Dean Richards, to stop them.

Steve Bale reports on the man and his influence, and asks whether the England management have lost their way this season. He also talks to Ian Smith, the Scottish flyer leading the resurgence of an endangered species - the open-side flanker.

David Llewellyn finds out from leading figures where the game will be won and lost, and Tim Glover speaks to Mark Regan, the England hooker, about their problems this season.

Batman as a

boy wonder

At 22 Sachin Tendulkar has become the idol of the sub-continent, with a $10m sponsorship contract his latest reward. The entire planet will be at his feet if his brilliance can win cricket's World Cup for India. Robert Winder reports on the making of a legend.

The cup that

runneth over

The weather-struck FA Cup is behind schedule and the fifth round is still alive and kicking. Forest v Spurs is the big all-Premiership tie, while Grimsby have earned a replay at Stamford Bridge and Charlton have the unenviable job of trying to unsettle Liverpool at Anfield.