Little Dan has big name to live up to

Makena Auvele says her new son Daniel, who is named after Dan Carter, was "waiting for the game to start to come out". Photo / Dean Purcell

He was born at halftime during the All Blacks' epic World Cup clash against the Wallabies and is named after the world's best first five-eighth.

Daniel Auvele was delivered at 5.45am yesterday at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, oblivious to the men in black's handy 16-3 lead going into the break.

"He was waiting 'til the game started to come out," said proud mum Makena Auvele.

"He's a lovely boy."

Weighing in at a healthy 3.86kg (8.5lbs) and about the size of a standard ball, the new arrival is a rugby player in the making who could well be destined for the forward pack, though Mrs Auvele, 39, sees him as more of a back, like his famous namesake, Daniel Carter.

"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."