Van der Westhuizen - hat-trick of tries (Getty Images)

By Andrew Baldock, PA Sport, Perth

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South Africa sounded a World Cup warning to England with their record 12-try victory over Uruguay at Subiaco Oval.

The Springboks, whose World Cup build-up was marred by racism allegations off the pitch and foul play on it, swept Uruguay aside in emphatic fashion.

But neither coach Rudolf Straeuli nor skipper Joost van der Westhuizen would be drawn on the game's relevance to meeting England in a probable winner-takes-all Pool C showdown next weekend.

"We are to here to win the World Cup - we take this competition very seriously," said hat-trick hero van der Westhuizen.

"This game was ideal preparation, especially for our forwards, and as far as we're concerned, it's all about winning the World Cup and not just beating England."

The Springboks scored six first-half tries to leave Uruguay gasping, and then further turned the screw as their pace and power took a terrible toll on 'Los Teros'.

Van der Westhuizen, skipper in the absence of injured controversial captain Corne Krige, led by example with a hat-trick as South Africa posted their highest World Cup score.

And he was joined by eight other try-scorers - Bakkie Botha (2), Jaque Fourie, Joe van Niekerk, Richard Bands, Thinus Delport, Danie Rossouw, Werner Greeff and Hendro Scholtz - as South Africa finished with 12 touchdowns in front of a disappointing 17,000 crowd.

Fly-half Louis Koen kicked six conversions, but it was nothing more than a Pool C warm-up for far more serious matters against England.

Uruguay were predictably brave, especially in defence, yet they could not cope with South Africa's superior physical power, and managed just two Diego Aguirre penalties.

"It will obviously be a step up against England - in attack, defence and tactical ploys," said Straeuli.

"We scored 12 tries, which was satisfying, and it was also important not to concede a try either. We did make mistakes with regard to some of our handling and support play, but in general, we are pretty happy.

"England will be a totally different game - much tighter in every way - but we know that, and we must now wait and see."

South Africa needed just 66 seconds to open their account, as they caught the Uruguayan defence cold.

Van der Westhuizen was the beneficiary of a superb power-play, and then he struck again just four minutes later following excellent approach work.

It was the worst possible start for Uruguay, and although Aguirre slotted two penalties in quick succession, there was no halting a first-half try procession.

Lock Botha, back on the Test match scene after he was suspended for foul play during South Africa's Tri-Nations clash against Australia two months ago, crashed over from close range after Van Niekerk's touchdown.

Delport then put his name on the scoresheet, but newcomer Faure provided the first-half highlight when he showed the Uruguayan defence a clean pair of heels on a weaving 60-metre run to the line.

The Springboks had a bonus point secured after just 28 minutes, and even though Koen could afford to miss half his first-half conversion attempts, South Africa had done more than enough damage.

Van der Westhuizen completed his hat-trick on 58 minutes, and was immediately substituted by Straeuli ahead of the England game.

The romp was completed by further scores from Botha, Scholtz and Greeff, and while Uruguay had given it everything, they were comprehensively outmuscled in every key area.

Delport, Faure, Rossouw and Derick Hougaard all suffered minor knocks, but Straeuli does not anticipate any of them being fitness concerns for next week.

Uruguay must now go back to the drawing board ahead of a midweek appointment with Samoa, and they looked shell-shocked in the aftermath of such a drubbing.

"I didn't expect it to be such a big loss," said Uruguay coach Diego Ormaechea. "But we did show some good things, and the team is better than what people saw today.

"Our rugby is better than it was in the 1999 World Cup (Uruguay lost 39-3 to South Africa on that occasion) but the other teams have developed much more than us. The difference now is so big.

"But now is not the time for crying - we must hold our heads high and work towards the next game."

Aguirre paid tribute to South Africa's physical prowess, adding: "They play a very physical game, and there were times when we just couldn't stop it.

"I hoped the score would be closer, but they were better than I thought."

South Africa: Greeff, Willemse, Fourie, Barry, Delport, Koen, van der Westhuizen, Sephaka, Coetzee, Bands, Botha, Matfield, van Niekerk, Rossouw, Smith.

Replacements: de Kock for Koen (70), Hougaard for van der Westhuizen (65), Smit for Coetzee (60), Rautenbach for Bands (60), Loubscher for Matfield (70), Scholtz for van Niekerk (72), Boome for Rossouw (70).

Tries: van der Westhuizen 3, van Niekerk, Botha 2, Delport, Fourie, Bands, Rossouw, Scholtz, Greeff.

Cons: Koen 5, Hougaard.

Uruguay: Pastore, Cardoso, D. Aguirre, Mendaro, Ibarra, S. Aguirre, Caffera, Sanchez, Lamelas, Lemoine, Alzueta, Bado, Brignoni, Gutierrez, Capo.

Replacements: Grille for Cardoso (50), Amarillo for Caffera (70), Berruti for Sanchez (35), Storace for Lemoine (75), Ponte for Brignoni (60), Menchaca for Gutierrez (49).

Not Used: Perez.

Pens: D. Aguirre 2.

Att: 17,000

Ref: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand).