DAN Biggar believes Wales can "do it the hard way" in their World Cup group of death following crushing injury blows to Rhys Webb and Leigh Halfpenny.

Warren Gatland will go into the tournament without three key backs after scrum-half Webb and full-back Halfpenny were stretchered off against Italy in Cardiff, joining centre Jonathan Davies on the sidelines.

The chances of making it out of a pool featuring hosts England, bogey team Australia and dangerous Fiji have undoubtedly been hit but fly-half Biggar is bullish about Wales' knockout chances.

"We are going to have to do it the hard way now but we have a lot of character in the squad and a fair few winners," said the Ospreys playmaker.

"We are going to have to call on all that experience and to do something special. We are a team when we have our backs against the wall we come out swinging better."

Gatland was swift to point out post-match that they were agonisingly close to turning the Springboks over on their own turf without Halfpenny and Webb in Nelspruit last year.

Wales remain a quality side and Biggar, and his trusty right boot, will be central to their hopes of victory against the English and Aussies at Twickenham.

Halfpenny has proved to be nerveless on the Test scene with Wales and the Lions, as has Biggar at regional level.

"I like to goalkick and it's frustrating when you don't but the quality of Leigh speaks for itself," said the 25-year-old, who moved onto 150 international points with a late penalty against the Azzurri.

"I will just try and do the best for the team. I have done my best as a kicker over the years but I am not going to measure myself against anyone. I will work as hard as I can."

Wales were dejected by the injuries blows in Cardiff and they were deflated by a poor display in the 23-19 success against the Italians.

Biggar admitted that it was "a disastrous day all in all" but stressed that their Aviva Stadium give reason for optimism.

He said: "We need to remain positive because we defeated Ireland in Dublin the week before who had not lost at home for 15 months and won back-to-back Six Nations.

"We are still in a pretty good place. There was a little bit of a setback with a couple of injuries and not the performance we would have liked.

"We had a lot of praise against Ireland but it was disappointing we could not back that up.

"When things don't quite go so well you have to take it on the chin. We are quite used to people writing us off.

"Our message would be that we found a way to defeat Italy without playing well, having a couple of injuries and some players coming in against a team who were fully committed and have one of the best players in the world in Sergio Parisse."

If Wales can grind their way to three victories out of four in the coming weeks to set up a last-eight clash then there will be nobody complaining.