LONDON, 17 Oct - Julian Savea scored a hat-trick of tries as the mighty All Blacks booked their place in the semi-finals with a stunning display of power rugby at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
The tournament favourites ensured there would be no repeat of their nightmare defeat by France in Cardiff eight years ago as they ran in nine tries against their shellshocked opponents to record the biggest ever RWC knockout phase victory.
New Zealand dominated the early exchanges and Carter knocked over a penalty from 38 metres to put them 3-0 ahead after seven minutes. Scott Spedding levelled the score with a kick from the halfway line before Brodie Retallick charged down Freddie Michalak's clearance to score a try, converted by Carter to give the world champions a 10-3 lead after 11 minutes.
Michalak went off injured, to be replaced by Remi Tales, before Morgan Parra reduced the deficit with another penalty for Les Bleus. The All Blacks pressed home their advantage when Nehe Milner-Skudder danced through France's defence to bag his side's second try, with Carter again adding the extras to give his team an 11-point lead after 25 minutes. Carter then found Julian Savea (pictured, celebrating one of his tries) with a back-hand offload to put the wing in for a sensational touchdown.

TURNED THE SCREW

Louis Picamoles drove over the line for Les Bleus and Parra added the conversion before a second try for Savea extended New Zealand's lead to 29-13 at the interval.
France's comeback hopes took a dent after the restart when Picamoles was shown a yellow card for putting his fist in the face of All Blacks captain Richie McCaw as he lay on the turf. Jerome Kaino turned the screw when he crossed over after 50 minutes at the end of a penetrating passing move. 
Savea notched his third try of the night just before the hour mark, racing through to touch down between the posts. Carter converted to send New Zealand 41-13 ahead. Number eight Kieran Read was next to get in on the scoring act, collecting a pass from Charlie Faumuina to rack up his team's seventh try after 65 minutes. Carter booted his fifth conversion of the night and the fly-half did the trick again after Tawera Kerr-Barlow added No 8 two minutes later.
Kerr-Barlow scored another converted try in the 70th minute to complete France's misery.