CAPTAIN Sam Warburton insists Wales still have the quality to win the World Cup despite losing three star backs to injury.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny (knee) and scrum-half Rhys Webb (foot) have been ruled out of England 2015 after being stretchered off in the final warm-up against Italy last weekend, joining centre Jonathan Davies (knee) on the sidelines.

Losing three vital players is a huge blow to Wales’ chances of making it out of their nightmare group with the hosts, bogey team Australia and dangerous Fiji, let alone being knockout contenders.

However, openside flanker Warburton believes that there is still the quality in the 31-man squad to thrive.

“I believe we can still achieve what we set out to do,” he said. “You don’t just win a World Cup on two players and we would not be worthy of winners.

“It is more than just a 15-man game. When we almost beat South Africa in the second Test last summer neither Rhys or Leigh were playing.

“We are quite used to playing in big matches where we have not had frontline players available.

“Nobody is talking about Jonathan Davies anymore because he has not been there and we have fantastic centres in Scott Williams and Jamie Roberts. I believe we have the strength in depth to replace Rhys and Leigh.

“You just have to look at New Zealand in the last World Cup who had the belief to win after losing Dan Carter.”

Warburton stressed that Wales have quality deputies with Liam Williams returning from injury to replace Halfpenny at full-back and Mike Phillips answering the injury SOS at scrum-half.

“Leigh is one of the world-class players we have in our squad and would be a loss to any nation in the world,” said the Cardiff Blues back row forward.

“But having a prolific goal-kicker like Dan Biggar who has been doing it for the last eight years for the Ospreys is a great guy to take over from Leigh.

“Liam Williams is coming back at full-back and he is one of the most exciting counter-attacking players and unbelievable under the high ball. To have someone like him at full-back is a luxury.”

“Mike Phillips is a two-time British Lion, this is his third World Cup and he has 94 Welsh caps so you couldn’t really have a better replacement,” he continued.

“Mike is very popular in the group and on his day he is a world-class performer. To be able call on Mike is the perfect replacement and we couldn’t be luckier than have someone like him waiting to come in.

“He will pick the morale up and everyone will good to see him again because he is a great character.”