After becoming the most capped All Black last week, Sam Whitelock broke the record for Rugby World Cup appearances as his side booked a spot in the quarter-finals with a demolition of Uruguay. 

Second row Whitelock made his 23rd appearance at the showpiece tournament 149th, surpassing Jason Leonard and Richie McCaw. 

Uruguay had nothing to lose having already been eliminated and their impressive performances against France and Italy were followed by a stubborn defensive display in the opening 10 minutes.

Cam Roigard appeared to have scored the opening try but his effort was cancelled out when the TMO spotted a knock on while the Hurricanes scrum-half was grounding.

At the other end, Manuel Ardao danced down the touchline but was only denied by a try saving tackle from Anton Lienert-Brown. 

Compared to last weekend’s 96-17 demolition of Italy where they scored six tries in the first half, New Zealand were sluggish early on and endured five handling errors in the first 12 minutes.

However, the All Blacks burst into life getting their silky handling into gear as Damian McKenzie and Richie Mo’unga crossed in quick succession.

McKenzie produced a moment of magic where he walked the tightrope to keep in play and flicked the ball back inside to the grateful Will Jordan, who scored his 26th try in his 28 caps.

On the stroke of half time, Roigard went over off a well worked scrum 5m out while after the interval the All Blacks try scoring continued with substitute Fletcher Newell stepping his way to score.

Leicester Fainga’anuku followed suit profiting from an excellent looping pass by Jordan. 

McKenzie, Jordan and Fainga’anuku secured their braces as the one way traffic continued in the closing stages before Crusaders winger Fainga’anuku completed his hat-trick.