Fiji 42 France 6

FIJI scored the biggest upset of the World Cup so far with a stunning 42-6 win against France at WIN Stadium last night.

The Fijians went into the tournament as 500-1 outsiders to win the title but shocked the French with a spectacular seven-tries-to-one win.

Newcastle Knights flyer Akuila Uate scored three tries - one an amazing 90-metre individual effort - as the crowd favourites out-enthused their more-fancied rivals.

Fullback Jarryd Hayne was sensational at the back for Fiji, scoring two tries and proving a handful for the French defence.

The big win all but assures Fiji a place in the next phase of the tournament, a semi-final qualifier against the winner of Pool 3 on Monday week.

If they can win that game, likely to be against Samoa, they could find themselves in a semi-final against tournament favourites Australia.

Hayne brought the pro-Fijian crowd of 9213 to life with a try in the sixth minute and his side never looked back in the Pool 2 match. They led 18-6 at the break and then sealed the amazing win with a four-tries-to-nil second-half shut-out.

The Fijians are deeply religious and their coach Joe Dakuitoga said their faith in a higher power had propelled them to victory.

"We want to thank God for giving the boys the strength [and] the power - so we are giving Him back all of the glory," Dakuitoga said.

France lost hooker James Wynne early to a dislocated elbow but coach John Monie refused to make excuses for his well-beaten side.

"I was disappointed," Monie said. "We should have played better football than that - they had too much enthusiasm."

Meanwhile, Samoa and Tonga are clamouring for more international competition after supplying one of the best spectacles of the World Cup at Penrith on Friday.

The much-anticipated island derby produced one of the best matches of the tournament, with Samoa squeezing out a 20-12 win against their great rivals.