LONDON, Oct 18 — Julian Savea scored a bulldozing hattrick as New Zealand delivered a record-setting rugby masterclass to rout France 62-13 and set up a World Cup semifinal against South Africa.

The Springboks earlier had a tougher time getting past Wales with captain Fourie du Preez touching down with five minutes left to snatch a 23-19 win at Twickenham.

The Southern Hemisphere powers are set to dominate the tournament with Australia favourites against Scotland in their quarter-final today when Argentina hope to score an upset against Ireland.

New Zealand went into their match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium facing romantic hopes from their rivals that France could pull off a repeat of their upset last-eight win over the All Blacks in the same stadium in 2007.

But the defending champions dominated from the first kick and set a new record for points scored and the winning margin in a World Cup quarterfinal.

They scored nine tries in all and France were so battered by the All Black tsunami that they did not manage a point in the second half. Louis Picamoles got their only try in the first half.

“The tension was always going to go up and we talked about it all week about needing to go up a notch,” said captain Richie McCaw.

“I am just proud of the way the guys, especially at the start of the game, we got into it and applied pressure right into the field. We were pretty clinical.”

In addition to Savea's triple, Tawera Kerr-Barlow touched down twice and Nehe Milner-Skudder, Brodie Retallick, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read also crossed. Dan Carter added 17 points from the boot.

Savea is now the tournament's leading try scorer with eight.

French coach Philippe Saint-Andre was booed by his country's fans at the end of his last game in charge of the team.

Spring resurgence

The day's other quarter-final could not have been more different.

With Wales leading 19-18 and with just five minutes left, South Africa captain du Preez picked up a sublime Duane Vermeulen backhand pass and drove through to the corner to touchdown.

In a dramatic ding-dong battle, the lead changed hands five times after Handre Pollard kicked the first penalty for South Africa and before Du Preez snatched victory.

“The whole game from minute one was on a knife-edge,” said man-of-the-match Schalk Burger. 

“We obviously knew that this game was going to be won in the last 10 minutes.”

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer, who had to apologise to the nation after South Africa's sensational 34-32 loss to Japan in their opening pool match, said he wanted to “kiss” du Preez.

“He is a tactical genius. He came up with that move and the try was pure genius,” the coach added.

The Springboks had proved they can win under pressure, he added. 

“If you put pressure on charcoal it turns to diamonds,” said Meyer.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was disconsolate.

“The players emptied the tank. Unfortunately, we weren't good enough to hold for on the full 80 minutes,” he added. 

Wales new star kicker Dan Biggar, who claimed 14 more points and set up a try for Gareth Edwards, was furious to be taken off for treatment to a head injury just before the Du Preez try.

But amid controversy over injuries at the World Cup, Gatland said the medical staff were right to bring Biggar off.

“That is a medical call — it looked like he had got a bit of a knock and was a bit unsteady on his feet. 

“We support the medical staff 100 percent, there are no issues from the coaching staff.” — AFP