"He's a good player."
Mrs Auvele, who admitted having toyed with the name Richie, had to miss the game as she was in the final stages of labour. She was unaware Carter had been named man of the match.
"The midwife just came out with the name.
"She came in and called him Daniel."
The All Blacks connection was irresistible and the name stuck.
The youngest of five siblings, Daniel was not due to be born until Wednesday, but it seems the chance to be part of history was too great a pull.
Mrs Auvele went into labour about 11pm on Saturday and arrived at hospital by ambulance from her Massey home about 3am.
Two hours later, the World Cup final was under way, and 45 minutes after that, Daniel was born.
By 7am, the newborn was adjusting to life outside the womb and Richie McCaw's men were celebrating becoming back-to-back world champions after a convincing 34-17 victory.
The baby boy's rugby-loving father, Petelo Auvele, 50, is an avid All Blacks supporter, but resisted temptation to catch the action with hospital staff in the maternity ward office, instead staying by his wife's side during the birth.
"People were watching it on TV," Mrs Auvele told the Herald. "They were screaming when the All Blacks scored."
Mr Auvele is a preacher and had to duck off yesterday morning for Sunday church service, but was due back at hospital in the afternoon to transfer his wife to Waitakere Hospital.
"I'm still waiting for him," she said. "He's probably watching the replay."
