Hat-trick hero Brian Liebenberg. (Getty Images)

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Centre Brian Liebenberg scored a hat-trick as France's second XV comfortably beat the United States 41-14 in Wollongong on Friday night to ensure a clean record heading into the World Cup quarter-finals.

French coach Bernard Laporte was satisfied as his re-shuffled side left the Americans trailing in the first half and built a 26-0 lead with their scrum enjoying complete dominance.

Les Bleus' control slipped a little in the second period as their game eased and the USA increased their own efforts, but France remained well ahead on the scoreboard as they put the pool phase of the tournament behind them.

"We had to win that game against the United States," reflected Laporte. "It's great preparation for the quarter-finals to have a good match like that.

"We want to stress that the team that played was not our 'B' team. All the players work together and that is what is important."

Laporte was quick to deflect speculation about the looming quarter-final against the loser of Saturday's match between world champions Australia and Ireland.

"We have 10 days to prepare for the quarter-finals and I just want to celebrate this win," said Laporte, although he admitted the next round was going to be a massive challenge.

"Australia and Ireland are two great teams. Australia, of course, are one of the favourite teams, Ireland can do great things and we will watch the game and then make our plans."

France were certainly not taking the Americans lightly, fly-half Gerald Merceron kicking two early penalties to open up a 6-0 lead before a wonderful Clement Poitrenaud run set up an attacking position from which Liebenberg was able to open his account.

Five minutes later, the centre had his second after a scrum won against the feed - one of three tightheads in favour of the French in the first 40 minutes - and when Jean Baptiste Poux crashed over six minutes before the break, a big score looked likely.

But America bounced back and were far more competitive in the second half.

Kort Schubert scored his third try of the tournament to underline his emergence as a top-class flanker, taking a nicely timed pass from Mike Hercus.

France crossed five minutes later when Liebenberg wrapped up his hat-trick at the end of some good work by Sebastien Chabal.

Hercus then scored a try himself with a clever dummy before Yannick Bru struck back with a fine driving try off a ruck which featured good support work by Patrick Tabacco.

Dmitri Yachvili's drop goal in the 63rd minute was the final scoring action of the match as France's attacking structure became fractured and America defended with greater tenacity.

The first half was notable for the departure of American number eight Dan Lyle, who was caught in the head by the knee of his own centre Paul Eloff, and had to leave the field with concussion with less than half an hour gone.

The closing stages saw Chabal yellow carded for persistent infringements at the ruck, a disappointing end to the game for the Bourgoin flanker.

He helped create Liebenberg's second try with an excellent offload for Merceron, while he also showed good composure to find Bru with a pass for the hooker's touchdown in the second half.

But it was hat-trick man Liebenberg, born in South Africa, who was the star for Les Bleus in his first appearance at the tournament.

"I was pretty happy just to get a game at the World Cup and the three tries was just a bonus," said Liebenberg, who only qualified to represent France in June and made the World Cup squad at the expense of the enormously popular Thomas Castaignede.

"Our forward pack played very well and gave us good ball, so I could just fall over the line."

"Up until know they have scored a lot of points and qualified for the quarter-finals and played very well.

US coach Tom Billups tipped France as easily good enough to win the World Cup.

"It would appear that the French have the formula right," said Billups.

"I think the French have as a good a chance as anyone. They have a good balance of forwards and backs."