IT was to be expected, but France - led by Saints half back Theo Fages - fell to a second World Cup defeat.

Second-row forward Wade Graham grabbed four tries on his second appearance for Australia as the Kangaroos handed France a 10-try mauling with a 52-6 triumph in Canberra.

The Cronulla man became the seventh player to score four tries in a World Cup match and the first Australian forward to achieve the feat since Gorden Tallis got four against Papua New Guinea in 2000.

"It's something I never dreamed of," Graham said. "I'm blown away."

France battled throughout and scored an exceptional long-range try through full-back Mark Keirallah but they were still outclassed by the holders and overwhelming tournament favourites.

Stand-off Cameron Munster touched down twice on his debut and veteran full-back Billy Slater scored his 13th World Cup try to match the record set by Bob Fulton and equalled by Jarryd Hayne last weekend.

Winger Tom Trbojevic, another debutant, had an early try disallowed by video referee James Child for obstruction but there was no stopping Graham as he powered his way over for two tries in five minutes to put his side 10-0 up.

Keirallah, France's Australia-born full-back who made a solitary NRL appearance for Sydney Roosters before heading to France to ply his trade with Toulouse, provided the visitors with a lift with an opportunist try, scooping up Cameron Smith's attacking kick and sprinting 70 metres through a threadbare defence.

Remy Marginet added the conversion to make it 10-6 and the French had their chances to close the gap further before Graham completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark and two minutes later centre Josh Dugan finished off a sparkling move for the Kangaroos' fourth try.

Leading 20-6 at half-time, Australia quickly raced out of sight with three tries in a blistering 10-minute spell early in the second half.

Munster got his first and second rower Tyson Frizell charged over for a barnstorming effort before Slater supported a break by Michael Morgan to grab his landmark score.

France, who lost centre Olivier Arnaud with an arm injury, never threw in the towel but a Slater 40-20 kick set up the position for Graham to score his fourth try.

Smith, on his 36th consecutive appearance, took his goal tally to six from eight attempts before Munster and Valentine Holmes added further tries in the last seven minutes.