Cruden walks on crutches after the World Cup final © Getty Images

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Players/Officials: Aaron Cruden | Stephen Donald | Sir Graham Henry

Tournaments/Tours: Rugby World Cup

Teams: New Zealand

New Zealand fly-half Aaron Cruden faces an anxious wait to find out the extent of his knee injury but for the time being is reveling in the World Cup win.

The 22-year-old hyper-extended his right knee in the 34th minute of yesterday's 8-7 final victory over France at Eden Park and was replaced by Stephen Donald in the crucial playmaking role. Cruden said: "I don't think words can really describe it at this point but I'm just very honoured and humbled to be given this opportunity and be a part of what is now a winning World Cup team here on home soil."

Cruden was drafted into the All Blacks' squad three weeks ago after Dan Carter suffered a tournament-ending groin injury and was thrust into the starting role when back-up Colin Slade also sustained a serious groin injury. He said of the damage to his right knee: "I'm not too sure about it at this point. The doc has looked at the footage and reckons it's a hyper-extension, but hopefully I'm a quick healer and I'll be back soon.

"I heard a bit of a snap and I sort of knew that probably wasn't a good thing, but I just asked the doc what she thought and she said 'have a bit of a walk around and see how you go'. It was the World Cup final so I didn't really want to come off but unfortunately the knee gave way and I had to come off.

"But I had all the faith in Stephen and all the boys knew he'd step up and do the job and I thought he was outstanding. I was pretty gutted to be sitting on the bench but I got right behind the team and I knew the boys were out there giving it everything.

"Obviously I wished I was able to be out there with them but it wasn't to be. The boys threw everything at it and left it all out on the field and it's outstanding to get the result."

Cruden was at a loss to account for the run of bad luck for Kiwi playmakers throughout the competition, adding: "It has been a bit of a bad run for the first-fives here but to get a result like that on home soil was just outstanding."

Donald was called back from a fishing holiday to join the All Blacks' squad three weeks ago as back up for Cruden, and took his opportunity with aplomb. The 27-year-old, who had previously been fourth choice at fly half for his country, banged over a second-half penalty that proved the difference between the teams in the Auckland nail-biter.

Coach Graham Henry said Donald "probably deserved" some of the intense criticism he has received in the past but merited a fairytale finish before heading off to English club Bath.

"He was tremendous," Henry said. "He is a great team person and very popular among the group. He is very professional and has had some stick in the past and probably deserved it. It was good he came through to kick the penalty and play some good footy in the second half."

And the Waikato stalwart was a hero in the eyes of inside centre Ma'a Nonu as well. "It's funny how the world works," Nonu said. "He was at the bottom of the ladder, lots of haters getting him down, but he came through, kicked that goal and won us the World Cup."

Donald is feeling the love so much that the seeds are already being sewn for a return for another crack at the All Blacks after his two-year deal in Bath runs out. "I'd love to come back at some stage," he added. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but for now I'm just soaking this up."