First the Rugby World Cup win - then, baby?

Yes Sir - that's my baby. If the stats don't lie, then there could be a mini baby boom on the way following the Rugby World Cup final. Photo / Thinkstock

All Blacks scoring on the rugby field may lead to the public scoring off it, with a mini baby-boom possible if New Zealand beats France in the Rugby World Cup final.

The last and only time the All Blacks lifted the William Webb Ellis Cup, in June 1987, there was a brief baby boom nine months later.

Figures released to the Otago Daily Times from Statistics NZ show that during March 1988 there were 4822 births, almost 400 births than in February and April.

All other RWC tournaments, barring the 2003 RWC, resulted in an increase in births nine months later when compared with the previous month.

The All Blacks lost to arch-rival Australia 22-10 at the 2003 tournament.

The smallest increase in births came nine months after the All Blacks' shock exit at in the quarterfinals against France at the 2007 World Cup.

Prominent All Blacks also appear to be influencing the names of boys born around each tournament, with distinctive names such as Taine (1999-2000), Carlos (2003) and Carter (2007-08) appearing in the top 100 New Zealand boys' names.

Only time will tell if a new generation of Corys, Israels and Sonny Bills will be added to the list.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES