England 111 Uruguay 13
Josh Lewsey led an England try-fest as the Six Nations champions concluded the Pool C campaign with their record victory in the World Cup over tournament minnows Uruguay at Suncorp Stadium.
In thrashing the South Americans, England broke their previous-best World Cup effort, a 101-10 triumph against Tonga at Twickenham four years ago. But the 17-try success was marred by an injury to Bath wing Iain Balshaw, who was stretchered off early in the second period.
Wasps full-back Lewsey scored a England record-equalling five tries, and there were also touchdowns for Balshaw (two), scrum-half Andy Gomarsall (two), centre Mike Catt (two), Balshaw's replacement Jason Robinson (two), Stuart Abbott, flanker Lewis Moody, wing Dan Luger and centre Will Greenwood.
Fly-half Paul Grayson played his part with 11 conversions, and Catt added the extra points to two tries.
Uruguay prop Pablo Lemoine grabbed a consolation score for Los Teros, but England revelled in the open spaces after a difficult week in which they were fined £10,000 and fitness adviser Dave Reddin banned for two games after briefly fielding 16 players against Samoa in Melbourne last weekend.
They finished top of Pool C, and are now set for a quarter-final appointment with Wales in Brisbane next Sunday.
It was like a home game for England, with a huge contingent of travelling support, and the Six Nations champions made an immediate impression. England, beaten 76-0 by Australia on their last Suncorp Stadium appearance five years ago, went ahead inside three minutes.
Wing Dan Luger and centre Mike Catt were both heavily involved in stretching Uruguay's defence to the limit, and England inevitably worked an overlap for Moody to touch down wide out.
Grayson, one of seven England players making their first tournament starts, slotted the conversion, serving Uruguay with immediate notice of intent. Juan Ramon Menchaca cut the seven-point deficit with a short-range penalty on five minutes, and England did not help themselves by turning over possession in the tackle, with Luger a major culprit.
The Mexican wave - always a sign of crowd boredom - was well underway early on, and England needed to start producing something for their supporters.
They sacrificed a kickable penalty for a scrum, and skipper Phil Vickery's call proved correct as Gomarsall broke blind to send Lewsey scampering over.
Grayson booted the conversion, and after 18 minutes, England led 14-3. England, settled by the Lewsey score, began to increase the tempo, and they secured the game through a dazzling Balshaw double burst in two minutes.
The gifted Bath back firstly cut open Uruguay's defence from 45 metres for a sparkling solo score, then he picked up and wrong-footed Los Teros' defence with an amazing ghosting run.
Grayson kicked both conversions, and England were out of sight at 28-3 ahead early in the second quarter. England struck again on 34 minutes, and once again Balshaw was the catalyst.
Every time England found Balshaw in open space, he caused havoc, and another weaving run mesmerised the Uruguayan defence for Catt to prosper with try number five.
Grayson continued his 100 per cent conversion rate, and approaching the closing stages of a lively opening period, England led 42-3 after another converted try when Gomarsall scurried over from close range.
The second period resembled merely an opposed training session for England, as they amassed 69 more points, but Balshaw's injury threatened to tarnish the day.
Teams:
England:J Lewsey; I Balshaw, S Abbott, M Catt, D Luger; P Grayson, A Gomarsall; P Vickery (capt), D West, J Leonard; D Grewcock, M Corry; L Dallaglio, L Moody, J Worsley.
Replacements:S Thompson, J White, M Johnson, B Kay, K Bracken, W Greenwood, J Robinson.
UruguayJM Menchaca; J Pastore, D Aguirre (capt), J De Freitas, J Viana; S Aguirre, J Campomar; E Berrutti, D Lamelas, P Lemoine, J-C Bado, J-M Alvarez, N Brignoni, N Grille, R Capo.
Replacements:JA Perez, R Sanchez, G Storace, J Alzueta, M Guttierrez, E Caffera, D Reyes.