New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter has revealed that he will now retire from international rugby having achieved everything he ever hoped to in the sport, following his man-of-the-match performance in Saturday's World Cup final.

Carter, who famously missed the 2011 final after suffering an injury earlier in the tournament, was a pivotal presence in New Zealand's 34-17 win over Australia at Twickenham, scoring 19 points - including a crucial drop-goal and penalty at the end - to guide his side to victory.

It was a perfect way for the 33-year-old to end his international career, with Carter revealing afterwards that his final act - converting Beauden Barrett's try with a right-footed kick from under the posts - meant he left the arena having achieved all of his childhood dreams.

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"Ah, I didn't think you saw that!" Carter said, when asked about the unusual final kick. "It has always been a dream of mine, to kick a conversion right-footed in international rugby. I'd always really wanted to do it once, so it was a chance to do that.

"I had been getting some stick from the lads, saying it was never going to happen, so that was it really."

For the player that might have been the kick of most personal significance, put the two that came prior to that were more decisive in deciding the contest. His 70th minute drop goal, which restored his side's flagging momentum, was perhaps the defining moment in a game that was threatening to swing back in Australia's favour.

"I'd been lining one up a couple of minutes beforehand," Carter revealed. "They had suddenly put a lot of pressure on us. To slot that drop goal, it gave us a seven point advantage at a crucial point in the game."

Then came the clinching penalty - one struck from almost the half-way line. Carter admitted that he had doubts that he could carried the distance, but believed going for the posts - even if he came up short - made more sense then kicking for territory.

"Yeah, with these old legs I wasn't sure I had the distance," he added. "But 10 points would give us an extra cushion that we needed.

"I thought with the adrenaline, I'd be able to get it over."

Carter admitted that, having worked so hard to get to this stage, the week leading up to the final had tested his mental resolve, in what he knew would be his final game before moving to France to play for Racing Metro.

"There was lot of expectation ahead of the game," he said. "Not wanting to let my teammates down, basically.

"We've been through a lot through the last few years, and this is the pinnacle. It was pretty challenging coming into this week, with things going through your mind, so I had to remind myself to keep focused, keep thinking about the process, and concentrate on the job in hand.

"What we've achieved ... it was an important goal to win back-to-back World Cups. No other team has done that, so it's an amazing feeling. I'm so proud to be part of such a special group of guys."

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Despite such a fairytale ending to his career, Carter will not be reversing his decision to retire from the international game.

"I'm looking forward to celebrating with the boys now over the next week," he added. "At the end of the day it's about the team. The bond we've developed will stick with us.

"Now I can move on to the next stage of my career, I"m looking forward to the next chapter [in France]."

Carter's comments were echoed by his teammates, who were eager to pay tribute to the No. 10 - along with captain Richie McCaw, who is yet to officially confirm his own international retirement.

"They've been massive players for the last decade," centre Ma'a Nonu, who scored New Zealand's second try on the night, said. "They are players I've always looked up to.

"DC has just kicked it to another level the last few weeks, and took that into the final. I'm just really happy for him."

Replacement Sonny Bill-Williams also paid tribute to the bond between all the players in the squad. Minutes after receiving his winners' medal, the 30-year-old handed it off to a delighted child in the crowd.

"He might be a future All-Black," Williams said, when asked to explain the move. "That might inspire him.

"The bond we share, there's brothers in that changing room. So that's more special to me [than the medal]. "Seeing the boys' smiles on their faces at the moment, what we've accomplished, that's the most special thing."