WARREN Gatland wants Wales to be written off in their World Cup group of death, believing that his charges will thrive as underdogs just as they did in 2011.

Four years ago Sam Warburton & Co travelled to New Zealand without a fanfare yet they were a kick away from making the final.

This time most are tipping them to be heading back over the Severn Bridge before the knockout stages after being drawn against hosts England, bogey team Australia and the dangerous Fijians.

Added to that is the absence of three vital backs in Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies and Rhys Webb because of injury.

At Wales' first press conference of the tournament Gatland told the media: "If you can do your jobs and write us off as much as possible, which seems to be happening at the moment, that's the best situation for a Wales team to be in.

"Sometimes those things galvanise us and make us stronger as a unit, so continue to do it please."

Wales start the tournament on Sunday when they take on whipping boys Uruguay at the Milllennium Stadium (kick-off 2.30pm).

The fierce nature of Group A means that the hosts will have to rack up the points in Cardiff but Gatland believes all the other games are up for grabs and hasn't ruled out England coming unstuck in Friday's grand opener against Fiji.

"It's good that the World Cup is kicking off with a quality fixture and Fiji are a little bit of an unknown quantity," he said.

"Their performances in the last few months had dictated that it will be a tough fixture. They haven't come here to make up the numbers and you have to respect them for that.

"Having watched some of their performances, particularly in their last two games against Samoa and Canada, they are going to be a handful for any team."

If Wales can emerge from a challenging pool then they will fancy their chance of making it to Twickenham on October 31.

"I believe this is going to be the closest World Cup," said Gatland. "There are a number of teams who need a bit of luck to get through the pool stages but everyone has an opportunity.

"There are seven or eight teams who will fancy themselves if they get through to the quarter finals.

"If you look back to the autumn, it was the best the northern hemisphere had done against the southern hemisphere for a number of years."