Valentine Holmes grabs historic five-try haul as Australia smash Samoa to reach World Cup semi-finals

Australia 46 Samoa 0: The Kangaroos ran in eight tries in what was their best performance so far

Valentine Holmes scored five in total (Getty)

Valentine Holmes made history with a five-try haul to help Australia become the first team to reach the World Cup semi-finals with a hugely impressive 46-0 victory over Samoa.

The Cronulla winger went one better than team-mate Wade Graham, who scored four tries against France in a group match in Canberra, as the Kangaroos produced a clinical performance against a disappointing Samoan team in front of a sold-out crowd in Darwin.

Samoa, who qualified for the knock-out stages despite being unable to beat Scotland in their group games, were no match for an Australia team that went through the gears to produce their best performance of the tournament so far.

Billy Slater added to his collection of Australia tries (Getty)

It was a 10th consecutive World Cup win for the Kangaroos, who will play either New Zealand or Fiji in Brisbane next Friday for a place in the final.

Veteran full-back Billy Slater was also among the try-scorers, drawing level with former team-mate Jarry Hayne as the leading try-scorer in World Cup history on 14 while Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith kicked seven goals from eight attempts in his record-equalling 15th World Cup match.

It was routine for the Kangaroos from the moment impressive centre Josh Dugan palmed the ball back from Cooper Cronk's kick for Holmes to grab his first try on eight minutes.

Right winger Dane Gagai lost the ball going for the line before Holmes took a return pass from Cronk to claim his second while Slater went over for his landmark try on 23 minutes to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Samoa simply could not get a toehold in the game and Morgan put the game beyond them when he touched down twice in six minutes before the break, dummying his way over for his first and following up Smith's grubber kick to double his tally.

Australia will face either Fiji or New Zealand (Getty)

Smith took his goal tally to five as Australia led 30-0 at the break and there was little let-up in the second half.

Tyson Frizell was held up over the line 10 minutes into the second half but there was no stopping Holmes as he accepted a bullet pass from Slater to complete his hat-trick.

Homes then finished off a break by Michael Morgan for try number four and rounded off the scoring with his fifth seven minutes from the end.