Today's rugby news as Jamie Roberts predicts Wales v Fiji ...

Here are your rugby headlines on Saturday, August 26.

Roberts predicts Wales v Fiji 'humdinger'

Wales legend Jamie Roberts has said Warren Gatland's side face a 'humdinger' of a contest in their opening Rugby World Cup match against Fiji.

Gatland's men have lost just once to Fiji in their history - with that humilating defeat famously knocking them out of the 2007 World Cup - but now find themselves below the Pacific Islanders in the global rankings.

And Roberts, who played at two World Cups with Wales, is predicting a nail-biting affair in Bordeaux in two weeks' time, with the result potentially huge for how the rest of Pool C plays out.

Speaking to ITV about their chances in France, the former centre said: "Wales under Warren, I think having a couple of months together to instil that belief, they'll work hard on the conditioning, they'll make sure they're in tip top shape and I just hope their game plan allows them to express themselves.

"That opening match against Fiji in Bordeaux for Wales is going to be a humdinger," he added. "It's going to be a one-score game, and however that game pans out, it's going to have a huge influence on that group."

Pick up your brilliant 48-page guide to the Rugby World Cup Gatland to be watching

Warren Gatland is sure to be an interested viewer as England take on Fiji this afternoon in their final warm-up match before the World Cup.

Fiji are up first for Gatland's side in France and the coach will be casting a watchful eye over proceedings at Twickenham as he looks to get some last-minute tactical insight ahead of the Pool C opponents meeting on September 10.

Wales are all too familiar with the Flying Fijians having met them at the last four World Cups but will face a tricky task in their World Cup opener with the Pacific Islanders currently ranked ninth in the world, a place higher than Gatland's side.

However, it's not just Fiji that will have the Wales boss' attention, with a quarter-final date with England potentially on the cards if both sides manage to progress from their respective pools.

Steve Borthwick has seen his World Cup plans fall into disarray in the last week, with Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola banned for four and three matches respectively and wing Anthony Watson ruled out of the tournament through injury.

Farrell will miss the first two pool stage matches against Argentina and Japan, while Vunipola could only miss the opener against Los Pumas if he reduces his suspension by attending 'tackle school'.

Ben Earl will start at No.8 in Vunipola's absence, while George Ford continues at fly-half, Courtney Lawes captains the side on his 100th appearance and Jonny May starts on the wing despite not being named in Borthwick's World Cup squad.

All Black giant could miss World Cup

New Zealand forward Scott Barrett could be ruled out of the World Cup after he was shown a red card in his side's 35-7 defeat to South Africa.

Barrett had been shown a yellow card less than 15 minutes into the contest at Twickenham and was warned by referee Matthew Carley after an early hit on Springboks scrum-half Faf de Klerk.

But despite the warning, shortly after returning to the field from 10 minutes in the sin bin, the lock was given his marching orders after being shown a second yellow for a wild, no-arms challenge on Malcolm Marx at the side of a ruck.

Marx was clearly trying to vacate the space around the ruck, but Barrett flew into the tackle and piled into the Springboks hooker, with Carley reaching to his pocket again after deeming it "reckless" foul play.

The decision was put on review, but unlike the cases of England duo Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, the off-field TMO bunker decided the challenge did not need to be upgraded to a straight red card.

While that decision may mean he avoids a ban, it is also possible that the citing commission could take a closer look at the incident and rule Barrett out of at least the start of the tournament in France.

South Africa had a suspension scare of their own during the one-sided contest as Pieter Steph du Toit was shown a yellow card in the second half, but like Barrett this was not upgraded on review by the off-field TMO bunker.

Injured Graham out of Georgia clash

by PA

Darcy Graham has been ruled out of the Scotland Rugby World Cup warm-up match with Georgia on Saturday after suffering a quad strain.

The 26-year-old Edinburgh wing was named in the starting XV on Thursday but on Friday it was announced that his place in the team had been taken by Kyle Steyn.

Scottish Rugby described the injury being nursed by Graham – Scotland’s sixth-highest try-scorer of all time – as “mild”.

His absence on Saturday means he will fly to France for the World Cup next weekend having played only two matches for his country this calendar year after returning from a long-term knee injury at the end of last season.

Graham, who was ruled out of this year's Six Nations with a serious knee injury, has been in scintillating form since his return, scoring two tries against Italy in his side's first World Cup warm-up against Italy, before adding another in the win over France at Murrayfield the following week.

Gregor Townsend will be hoping for a speedy return to full fitness for the winger, who is the most prolific try-scorer in the squad with 19 in 35 Test appearances.