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, the ruthless world champion embarked on a 10-try cakewalk as Holmes smashed the record books with an unprecedented double treble.

Just seven days after scoring five tries against Samoa, Holmes remarkably went one better, destroying the Bati 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 half-time 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 game against Northland in 1953 — but no-one has found the white stripe quite like Holmes in a Test match.

Incredibly, the Kangaroo typhoon now has 12 four-pointers in this World Cup — breaking Wendell Sailor’s record for the most tries in a single tournament.

Slater also became the greatest tryscorer in World Cup history with 16, although the record-breaking joy was tempered by Josh McGuire’s ankle injury five minutes from full-time.

“It was fantastic, he was Johnny on the spot,” Australia coach Mal Meninga said.

“Val openly admits the guys inside him do all the work, but he’s a great finisher.

“His preparation has really improved just being involved with the likes of Cameron Smith, he observes those guys really well.”

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

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

Meninga beat Bennett for the Australian job two years ago and tensions sensationally spilt 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 super coach who coveted the Kangaroos post.

Australia were slick on Friday night but far from perfect. 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.

Australia’s ball movement was mostly swift and sharp. Their sheer speed simply broke Fiji’s bigger men. The Kangaroos scored four first-half 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.

“There is a lot of expectations around our performances,” skipper Smith said.

“We’ve got the job done, we’ve conceded 16 points in five games, it’s very pleasing.”

AUSTRALIA 54 (V Holmes 6 D Gagai 2 B Slater 2 tries C Smith 7 goals) bt FIJI 6 (S Vunivalu try A Koroisau goal) at Suncorp Stadium. Referee: Gerard Sutton