Sharks flyer runs amok as Aussies hand out caning to Fiji

VALENTINE Holmes, take a bow. On the scale of tryscoring freaks, you’re an 11 out of 10.

The ultimate grudge match between Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos and Wayne Bennett’s England is within reach after Holmes scored six tries to propel Australia into the World Cup final with a 54- 6 flogging of Fiji last night.

Before 22,073 at Suncorp Stadium, a potentially explosive semi- final degenerated into a 10- try Kangaroo cakewalk as Holmes smashed the record books with his tryscoring magic.

Just seven days after scoring five tries against Samoa, Holmes remarkably went one better, tormenting Bati defenders with a six- try haul that gave him 11 World Cup tries in a week.

Fiji led 2- 0 early, but Australia needed just half an hour to hit top gear, surging to a 22- 2 halftime lead before Holmes and Billy Slater helped complete the hatchet job in the second stanza.

Amid the carnage, it was a night of milestones for the Kangaroos.

Former Australian utility back Brian Carlson scored nine tries in a tour match against Northland in 1953 – but no one has been as prolific as Holmes in an official Test match.

Incredibly, Holmes now has 12 four- pointers in this World Cup – breaking Wendell Sailor’s 17- year record for the most tries in a single tournament.

Slater’s double saw him be- come the greatest t t tryscorer in World Cup history with 16, while skipper Cameron Smith is the most- capped player in Cup history, usurping Bob Fulton with his 16th game.

While Holmes’ feats defy belief, this was, ultimately, the World Cup script we all envisaged. No one doubted Australia would make the final. Now they must finish the job in the final at Suncorp next Saturday night against the winner of the England- Tonga semifinal tonight in Auckland.

Tonga have been the World Cup’s Cinderella story, but it is hard to ignore the spicy sub- plot if Bennett’s Poms prevail tonight at Mt Smart Stadium.

Meninga beat Bennett for the Australian job two years ago and tensions sensationally spilled over last October when the Kangaroos coach accused his English rival of trying to undermine him.

The pair claim to have since healed, but Meninga would relish reaffirming Australia’s dominance against either Tonga or the English supercoach who coveted the Kangaroos post.

Australia were slick night but far from perfect. last

Their start was clunky but after staving off Fiji’s early energy, the Kangaroos shifted gears with the ease of a Formula One driver to give the Bati a World Cup lesson.

The only downside for the Kangaroos was a late injury to in- form lock Josh McGuire, who will be racing the clock to be fit for the final after injuring his ankle five minutes from full- time.

Australia’s ball movement was mostly swift and sharp. Their sheer speed simply broke Fiji’s bigger men. The Kangaroos scored four firsthalf tries in an 18- minute window for a 22- 2 lead at the break before Holmes went berserk after the break.

The Sharks flyer celebrated his hat- trick in the 42nd minute but he was only warming up, showing off his “six- pack” four minutes from time as Australia flexed their World Cup muscle.

( V Holmes 6 D Gagai 2 B Slater 2 tries C Smith 7 goals) bt

( S Vunivalu try A Koroisau goal) at Suncorp Stadium.