CARDIFF, Wales - Defending champion New Zealand answered any lingering questions about its apparent lack of form by scoring nine tries in a record 62-13 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal win over France.

Left winger Julian Savea led the way with a superb hat-trick Saturday as the All Blacks secured the biggest winning margin in a World Cup quarterfinal, eclipsing the mark set by South Africa in 1995 with a 42-14 win over Samoa.

New Zealand will play a semifinal next weekend against the Springboks and, on this form, will be a hot favourite.

The All Blacks were questioned repeatedly in the lead-up to the Cardiff match about the corresponding quarterfinal at Millennium Stadium eight years ago, when New Zealand was beaten 20-18 by France at the same stage, on the same ground.

This time, the French were 29-13 down at the break and it just got worse for them.

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said losses to France in 2007 and in the 1999 World Cup semifinals should be consigned to the past.

"You realize that the intensity of a quarterfinal is up a level and we knew that without having to think back too far," he said. "It's another step, but we haven't done anything yet — all we've done is earn another week."

Four years ago, France pushed New Zealand all the way in the final before losing 8-7 in Auckland. Not this time.

"There were two or even three levels of difference between the sides," France captain Thierry Dusautoir said.

By the end of this match, the All Blacks were chasing their own record margin against the French: which was a 61-10 defeat in 2007.

It should have happened, but centre Ma'a Nonu, in his desperation to get among the try scorers, fumbled the ball as he crossed the line minutes from fulltime.

He could afford to laugh it off.

But the French won't be smiling and nor will the Springboks, who edged Wales 23-19 with a late try in the corner at Twickenham.

Lock Brodie Retallick kicked it off with a charge-down and try, and Nehe Milner-Skudder and Savea also crossed for first-half tries. No. 8 Kieran Read and Jerome Kaino scored in the second, Savea raced over for his third and replacement scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow came off the bench to add two late tries.

No. 8 Louis Picamoles scored France's try in the first half, but was sin-binned early into the second half.

An exchange of penalty goals preceded the Retallick try, and French flyhalf Frederic Michalak limped off soon after, giving recalled scrumhalf Morgan Parra the kicking duties.

He slotted over his first penalty but failed with second attempt as France missed the chance to move within one point.

Four more tries would follow in a frenetic first half.

Milner-Skudder's was brilliantly taken, side-stepping inside left winger Brice Dulin with ease, surging into a gap and then beating the fullback for pace.

Dan Carter converted again and then set up the third try with exquisite skill.

Carter gathered in midfield, dummied to pass, cut inside, fended off lock Pascal Pape and then found Savea with a brilliant backhand offload. Savea finished in the left corner and Carter added the extras to make it 24-6.

Pride stung, Picamoles scrambled over the line after scooping up a bouncing ball with just enough strength to get over the line for a converted score.

But it was Picamoles' mistake that offered New Zealand more breathing space. He took an age to move under Carter's towering kick — and then fumbled it.

The All Blacks reacted in a flash, the ball was moved to Retallick and he found Savea, who punished France with a brutal display of power that All Blacks great Jonah Lomu would have been proud of. As he charged into the left corner, he bumped off winger Noa Nakaitaci, fullback Scott Spedding, and prop Rabah Slimani.

France started the second half strongly but Picamoles again let his team down, getting sin-binned for shoving his fist on McCaw's jaw as he lay on the ground. Referee Nigel Owens showed Picamoles the yellow card and France was further punished when Kaino scored in the left corner.

The punishment just kept on coming for France as the All Blacks piled on the tries.

Philippe Saint-Andre was loudly jeered by the dejected French fans in the crowd as his fractious and unpopular spell as France coach came to an end on a night when Les Bleus became Les Miserables.