The Kangaroos earned a shot at Rugby league World Cup redemption by demolishing Fiji 64-0 at Wembley on Saturday to set up a showdown with reigning champions New Zealand in next weekend's final.
Australia piled on eleven tries, including a Jarryd Hayne hat-trick, and didn't concede a point for the third straight match in the second game of a semi-final double header in front of 67,545 fans in London.
It came after the Kiwis booked their place in next Saturday's decider at Old Trafford with a last-gasp 20-18 win over England in a World Cup classic.
Australia and New Zealand will meet in the final for the third straight tournament, with the Kangaroos out to avenge their shock loss in the 2008 decider.
While the Kiwis were pushed to the limit by England, Tim Sheens' side has strolled through almost effortlessly to a 13th straight World Cup final.
They've piled on 210 points in their past four games and haven't conceded a single try.
"It was a tougher game than most people would think looking at the scoreline and we have plenty of bruises. We went out to defend well and we did," Australia coach Tim Sheens told the BBC.
"We were embarrassed in the first game against England (in the first game of the tournament) and it will be a big ask next week against New Zealand.
"We have a week to get ready and we will be right."
Hayne continued his remarkable form in the centres, taking his tournament try-scoring tally to nine, while winger Darius Boyd had a double.
Man-of-the-match Johnathan Thurston and fellow playmaker Cooper Cronk ran riot while Greg Inglis, starting at fullback in place of the injured Billy Slater, was his usual dangerous self and Paul Gallen did the most damage up front.
The Kangaroos stormed to a 34-0 lead at halftime, running in six first-half tries.
Fiji started solidly but could only hold out the favourites for nine minutes with Thurston scoring with a fairly soft try.
Boyd crossed out wide in the 15th minute before Hayne set up Cronk four minutes later with a brilliant inside ball from the sideline.
Hayne got his first try four minutes later after being set up by Inglis, Josh Papalii barged through under the posts before Hayne added a second on the stroke of halftime.
After a slow start to the second half, James Tamou kept things ticking over when he stretched out to score in the 54th minute before Boyd crossed for his second.
Hayne scored his third in the 68th minute and could have had a fourth soon after but he unselfishly set up winger Brett Morris and Andrew Fifita completed the rout with a late try under the posts.
Saturday's match brought an end to the illustrious rugby league career of Fiji captain Petero Civoniceva, who played 35 Tests for the Kangaroos.
In the earlier game, England - led by the superb Sam Burgess - looked set to book an unlikely final berth before Shaun Johnson's last-minute try and conversion got New Zealand out of jail.
Fiji coach Rick Stone said it was a "disappointing way to finish the tournament".
"We couldn't match the Aussies in the skill and power, but we had a good tournament overall," he said.
"We competed pretty well against England and Australia at times and we need to look at where we can compete more against them.
"We have come a long way since the last World Cup in 2008 and hopefully we can take some bigger steps now."
Click here to see our full Rugby League World Cup hub with news, photos and videos from the United Kingdom!
Australia piled on eleven tries, including a Jarryd Hayne hat-trick, and didn't concede a point for the third straight match in the second game of a semi-final double header in front of 67,545 fans in London.
It came after the Kiwis booked their place in next Saturday's decider at Old Trafford with a last-gasp 20-18 win over England in a World Cup classic.
Australia and New Zealand will meet in the final for the third straight tournament, with the Kangaroos out to avenge their shock loss in the 2008 decider.
Prayer together after game! #RLWC2013 https://t.co/gpPLsbcVC0
— Australian Kangaroos (@Kangaroos) November 23, 2013While the Kiwis were pushed to the limit by England, Tim Sheens' side has strolled through almost effortlessly to a 13th straight World Cup final.
They've piled on 210 points in their past four games and haven't conceded a single try.
"It was a tougher game than most people would think looking at the scoreline and we have plenty of bruises. We went out to defend well and we did," Australia coach Tim Sheens told the BBC.
"We were embarrassed in the first game against England (in the first game of the tournament) and it will be a big ask next week against New Zealand.
"We have a week to get ready and we will be right."
Hayne continued his remarkable form in the centres, taking his tournament try-scoring tally to nine, while winger Darius Boyd had a double.
Man-of-the-match Johnathan Thurston and fellow playmaker Cooper Cronk ran riot while Greg Inglis, starting at fullback in place of the injured Billy Slater, was his usual dangerous self and Paul Gallen did the most damage up front.
The Kangaroos stormed to a 34-0 lead at halftime, running in six first-half tries.
Fiji started solidly but could only hold out the favourites for nine minutes with Thurston scoring with a fairly soft try.
Boyd crossed out wide in the 15th minute before Hayne set up Cronk four minutes later with a brilliant inside ball from the sideline.
Hayne got his first try four minutes later after being set up by Inglis, Josh Papalii barged through under the posts before Hayne added a second on the stroke of halftime.
After a slow start to the second half, James Tamou kept things ticking over when he stretched out to score in the 54th minute before Boyd crossed for his second.
Hayne scored his third in the 68th minute and could have had a fourth soon after but he unselfishly set up winger Brett Morris and Andrew Fifita completed the rout with a late try under the posts.
Saturday's match brought an end to the illustrious rugby league career of Fiji captain Petero Civoniceva, who played 35 Tests for the Kangaroos.
In the earlier game, England - led by the superb Sam Burgess - looked set to book an unlikely final berth before Shaun Johnson's last-minute try and conversion got New Zealand out of jail.
Fiji coach Rick Stone said it was a "disappointing way to finish the tournament".
"We couldn't match the Aussies in the skill and power, but we had a good tournament overall," he said.
"We competed pretty well against England and Australia at times and we need to look at where we can compete more against them.
"We have come a long way since the last World Cup in 2008 and hopefully we can take some bigger steps now."
Click here to see our full Rugby League World Cup hub with news, photos and videos from the United Kingdom!
