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A try to Paul Grant just before halftime in a 42-0 romp over Italy in Dubai this morning saw New Zealand become the first nation to score 1000 points in World Cup rugby sevens.
New Zealand opened their Group A campaign in style with Viliame Waqaseduadua scoring twice after they led 21-0 at halftime.
Skipper DJ Forbes led from the front against a flatfooted Italy to bag a try and was joined by Lote Raikabula, Grant and Chad Tuoro. Tomasi Cama converted all the tries.
Waqaseduadua, rated one of the top seven players top watch in the tournament, finished the match off with his two tries.
The result put New Zealand on top of the all-time scoring table with 1027 points. Fiji are second with 1019 with a wide gap to South Africa in third on 803.
Grant, from Otago was unaware he had helped New Zealand reach a milestone in sevens World Cup history.
"But that is a good privilege to have - great."
"There were a few balls to ground but we're pretty happy and it's a good way to get our campaign underway," Grant added.
Coach Gordon Tietjens was satisfied with the outcome given that was his side's first game together as a team.
With the Arabian Gulf and Tonga to play tomorrow morning Tietjens felt the side had a tough day ahead.
" We've got two games, which we treat as finals. We've got the first (Arabian Gulf) and last game (Tonga) so it should be a tough day for us."
