All Blacks, Australia into quarters

PARIS: World Cup favorite New Zealand and twice winner Australia flexed their considerable muscles to secure an untroubled passage into the quarterfinals on Sunday.

The southern hemisphere powerhouses joined Tri-Nations rival South Africa in reaching the last eight with a game to spare and can now focus on the business end of the tournament.

New Zealand barely slipped out of second gear in overrunning Scotland 40-0 at Murrayfield, while Australia thrashed Fiji 55-12 in Montpellier.

The All Blacks, after their final Pool C game with Romania next Saturday, will head for Cardiff and a probable quarterfinal with host France. Australia's reward for topping Pool B will be a last-eight meeting with either England or Tonga in Marseille.

In scoring six tries against a below-strength Scotland, New Zealand took its tally in its three one-sided matches so far to 33.

Scotland was demolished in the scrum and coach Graham Henry praised his forwards.

"I think we scrummed the best we have scrummed in the tournament which is a pleasing aspect. Our lineout went pretty well and our defence was okay," he said.

Henry was less impressed by a number of handling errors. "We made a lot of unforced errors, which was frustrating sitting in the stand.

"Perhaps we weren't as sharp as we have been in the previous games. There were a few errors that we need to look at. There were a lot of good things too."

It was a game to remember for New Zealand, wing Doug Howlett set a national record of 47 tries when he touched down for his side's second score after 15 minutes. After surpassing Christian Cullen's benchmark, Howlett extended his tally to 48 late in the game.

Scotland had rested the majority of its first-choice players to keep them fresh for the final group game against Italy on September 29 which now becomes a shootout for a last eight place.

"We will be judged not on our performance today but whether we qualify for a quarterfinal position," said coach Frank Hadden.

Australia, who head to Bordeaux for its final pool game with Canada on Saturday, possessed too much quality for Fiji and scored seven tries to seal a bonus point for the third match in a row.

Australian inside center Matt Giteau celebrated his 50th test appearance with two tries, four conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 27 points while left wing Drew Mitchell completed a hat-trick of tries.

The Wallabies victory was soured though by a shoulder injury sustained by utility back Scott Staniforth and may have to call up a replacement.

Australia has already been hard hit with injuries to its backline with Mark Gerrard sent home after hurting his knee in the first game against Japan and captain Stirling Mortlock and flyhalf Stephen Larkham both recovering from problems.

The tournament is set to end on an unhappy note for Samoa captain Brian Lima, who was cited on Sunday for a dangerous tackle on England's Jonny Wilkinson during Saturday's 44-22 Pool A defeat.

Lima, 35, the only player to play in five World Cups and who will retire from the game at the end of the season, will face a disciplinary hearing on Monday which could bring his illustrious tournament campaign to a premature end.

Samoa's final game is against the United States on Wednesday.

Agencies

(China Daily 09/25/2007 page24)