Five first-half tries, comprising braces for Holmes and Michael Morgan and a single Billy Slater score, set the defending champions on their way to an emphatic victory in front of a home crowd at the Darwin Stadium.

Holmes added a further three tries after the break to become the first man to score five in the same game at a World Cup.

"I am speechless," he was reported as saying by BBC Sport.

"Some of the players told me at the end but I did not believe them.

"I am honoured, it is awesome."

Captain Cameron Smith also managed seven conversions from eight as Australia ran riot.

"Our main goal was to make sure we completed our sets," Holmes added.

"We knew it would be hot and sweaty, Cameron Smith did great for us.

"Physically and mentally it was very hard, training in this weather was difficult so we were feeling it and they were too."

Victory for Australia sets up a semi-final with either New Zealand or Fiji, who will contest the second of tomorrow’s two quarter-finals in Wellington.

New Zealand’s clash with Fiji will be preceded by a last-eight encounter between Tonga and Lebanon in Christchurch.