Planet Rugby Forum

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 6:23 pm I have not seen any injury reports. There may even be injured players back, but why would you drop any who played at Twickenham?

Scotland has always been able to pull off the odd shock. Building on that has been the issue. We do not carry the tag of favourites easily so we hope that has changed. Townsend went from too off the cuff to too structured, but now seems to have a good medium.

I am quietly optimistic but seen too many lights at the end of the tunnel turn into onrushing trains to get ahead of myself.

P in VG wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 6:43 pm What's the weather looking like for Saturday - possibility of more snow?

Short Man Syndrome wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:11 pm You’ve owed us a pasting for a while, now... I could imagine a 20-30pt kicking on the cards.

Gwenno wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:47 pm None of the Scrum V studio pundits actually predicted a Wales win - they hedged their bets, saying ‘Wales, I hope’ which isn’t very confident, at best.Scotland are favourites. Most of these games are crackers, whoever wins. I predict Scotland, and last week I predicted Ireland. If Scotland, I’d love a Scottish title, slam or not.

Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:26 pm P.S. The funny thing about the 'amazing' Sweatie landscape picture is that it could be anywhere in mid to north Wales.

Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:26 pm P.S. The funny thing about the 'amazing' Sweatie landscape picture is that it could be anywhere in mid to north Wales.

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:40 am

Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 9:26 pm P.S. The funny thing about the 'amazing' Sweatie landscape picture is that it could be anywhere in mid to north Wales.

Isn't it sweet that you think that is an amazing landscape.

By Welsh standards that may be true, but that is bang average for Scotland.

As for 'anywhere in mid to north Wales', I have been to Rhyl.

Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:52 am If it's not 'amazing' then why have it (it would appear, given that you juxtaposed it with some valley terraces, that you were trying to show how much nicer Scotland is).

Having said that, I'd tend to agree we'd be underdogs in a natural beauty-off, but fudge it, lets go. Sunrise over snowcapped Tryfan.



Your go!

Gwenno wrote: ↑Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:47 pm None of the Scrum V studio pundits actually predicted a Wales win - they hedged their bets, saying ‘Wales, I hope’ which isn’t very confident, at best.Scotland are favourites. Most of these games are crackers, whoever wins. I predict Scotland, and last week I predicted Ireland. If Scotland, I’d love a Scottish title, slam or not.

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:46 am Genuine question.

There seem to be a lot of pine/spruce/conifer type trees in Scotland. Are they indigenous? I know in large parts of mid wales the natura oaks etc have been relaced by these monstrosities. I know its for commercial reasons.

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:54 am

Jeff the Bear wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 12:52 am If it's not 'amazing' then why have it (it would appear, given that you juxtaposed it with some valley terraces, that you were trying to show how much nicer Scotland is).

Having said that, I'd tend to agree we'd be underdogs in a natural beauty-off, but fudge it, lets go. Sunrise over snowcapped Tryfan.



Your go!

Average for Scotland v average for Wales.

What is the point of posting random pictures from across the internet. The OP is where I live.

This morning I walked the dogs on the hill to the right

Biffer29 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:40 am

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 1:54 am
Average for Scotland v average for Wales.

What is the point of posting random pictures from across the internet. The OP is where I live.

This morning I walked the dogs on the hill to the right

That looks very familiar to me. Kenmore, right?

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:36 am

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:46 am Genuine question.

There seem to be a lot of pine/spruce/conifer type trees in Scotland. Are they indigenous? I know in large parts of mid wales the natura oaks etc have been relaced by these monstrosities. I know its for commercial reasons.

Forestry is a big business round here so I know a lot of people involved in it.

If you look at the picture of the island in the loch, virtually all the woods you can see are conifer plantations. Historically, the forest around that loch was beech. There are remnants, but only remnants.

The hill on the right is a good example of the evolution of forests in Scotland. It is one of the first forests actively managed for lumber. In the 17th century management started of it as a mixed beech, oak and Scots Pine forest. This carried on till WW1 when it was felled out. Replanting was done mostly with commercial conifer. Now the original woodland is being gradually regenerated.

As the Highlands, and especially the uplands of the Highlands (you know what I mean) are colder then the south of the UK, the ancient forest that covered most of the Highlands was coniferous, mostly Scots Pine. But there was also significant birch, oak and other hardy species of hardwood. On the warmer west coast, the forests were less coniferous and more oak and other hardwood based.

By the 18th and certainly the 19th century most of the forest was gone. Scotland had a very, very low coverage of trees, and they could not regenerate due the density of sheep and deer which prevented young trees getting a start. Some of the great estates started replanting, but there was no desire to regenerate the native forest. It was a case of commercial forestry which used foreign quick growing species.

Post WW2 was the start of significant incentives for planting forestry, so huge amounts were planted. Again, mostly foreign conifer species.

Over time it was recognised that these slabs of mono cultural forests were a bad idea aesthetically. environmentally, and not least commercially. So a considerable proportion of replanting now is done with mixed native species. It has to be said a lot of timber operators would cheerfully plant whatever would give them the biggest profit, and only plant native due to grants and other support. But a remarkable number of big estates (and an astonishing amount of Scotland is still owned by the big estates) are now held by people who care about the environment and leaving a legacy for the future.

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:36 am

LandOTurk wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 6:46 am Genuine question.

There seem to be a lot of pine/spruce/conifer type trees in Scotland. Are they indigenous? I know in large parts of mid wales the natura oaks etc have been relaced by these monstrosities. I know its for commercial reasons.

Forestry is a big business round here so I know a lot of people involved in it.

If you look at the picture of the island in the loch, virtually all the woods you can see are conifer plantations. Historically, the forest around that loch was beech. There are remnants, but only remnants.

The hill on the right is a good example of the evolution of forests in Scotland. It is one of the first forests actively managed for lumber. In the 17th century management started of it as a mixed beech, oak and Scots Pine forest. This carried on till WW1 when it was felled out. Replanting was done mostly with commercial conifer. Now the original woodland is being gradually regenerated.

As the Highlands, and especially the uplands of the Highlands (you know what I mean) are colder then the south of the UK, the ancient forest that covered most of the Highlands was coniferous, mostly Scots Pine. But there was also significant birch, oak and other hardy species of hardwood. On the warmer west coast, the forests were less coniferous and more oak and other hardwood based.

By the 18th and certainly the 19th century most of the forest was gone. Scotland had a very, very low coverage of trees, and they could not regenerate due the density of sheep and deer which prevented young trees getting a start. Some of the great estates started replanting, but there was no desire to regenerate the native forest. It was a case of commercial forestry which used foreign quick growing species.

Post WW2 was the start of significant incentives for planting forestry, so huge amounts were planted. Again, mostly foreign conifer species.

Over time it was recognised that these slabs of mono cultural forests were a bad idea aesthetically. environmentally, and not least commercially. So a considerable proportion of replanting now is done with mixed native species. It has to be said a lot of timber operators would cheerfully plant whatever would give them the biggest profit, and only plant native due to grants and other support. But a remarkable number of big estates (and an astonishing amount of Scotland is still owned by the big estates) are now held by people who care about the environment and leaving a legacy for the future.

Jimcardiff wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 2:25 pm all the scenery looks lovely , shame we cant travel to see some of it , but back to the game , got to get this selection right, grand Slam decider see

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 10:50 am This is a rugby thread, so I'll make one last environmental observation. My wife was born and brought up in the glen where we live. We have had a home here for 30 years. There have been significant efforts in that time to reduce the environmental damage of the past. A result has been that there is a significant and visible increase in native fauna. For example, when I first came here, you would rarely see a red squirrel, now it is a daily occurrence. A lot of other native species have seen similar growth in numbers.

And then of course there are the beavers. They were illegally reduce on the Tay and have worked upstream. I know the riparian owners for almost the entire length of our glen. All bar one are pleased to see the beavers back, and whilst they do damage, landowners are prepared to either just live with that, or take appropriate action (eg protecting specific rare trees). My wife is quite clear that 50 years ago when she was growing up here the beavers would not be tolerated.

Gwenno wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:08 am North is out now
You may have to lend us a couple of players, like we did to Ireland in 1884

mikeyboy123 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 1:23 pm Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies, Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, James Botham, Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.

Team announced.

What's Navidi done wrong?

TheFrog wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:18 pm Scotland by 10.

Some good French born talent in that Redpath lad, in't?

Edinburgh01 wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:19 pm

TheFrog wrote: ↑Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:18 pm Scotland by 10.

Some good French born talent in that Redpath lad, in't?

Shame he's not playing.