Richie McCaw hobbled up to receive the Webb Ellis Cup with his coach, Graham Henry, marvelling at how his captain had been able to start the match let alone finish it. "Richie is an inspiration to the whole team and management," said Henry, who tasted World Cup success at the third attempt after 1999 with Wales and 2007 with the All Blacks. McCaw had not trained for three weeks because of the recurrence of a foot injury.

"He can hardly walk and how he played today I just don't know," Henry said. "He will have some time out now. That he got through it was down to his heart and determination. He is the best leader this country has ever had.

"You can't just go down to the chemist's and get a captain over the counter. Richie has gained strength through experience. He has led the All Blacks in more than 60 Tests and he got his reward today when he got his hands on the cup."

McCaw said: "I'm shagged. We had to dig deeper than we had ever done so before and we have to pay tribute to France – we knew we were in for a hell of a game. We stuck to our guns and it said everything about the men we have in this team. We did not play our best rugby but we did enough."

Henry was facing the sack after the All Blacks lost the 2007 quarter-final to France. No New Zealand coach had survived World Cup failure, but hours after that defeat McCaw was campaigning to keep Henry and his two assistant coaches, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, in their jobs. "I was not going to stand again," said Henry. "The players made me change my mind and the New Zealand Rugby Union had the courage to give us another contract. I would like to think they have been rewarded for that.

"A number of good coaches in various sports throughout the world are sacked before their time. I guess Sir Alex Ferguson is a good example of the reward patience brings. You learn from your mistakes and it is hard starting all over again."

Asked whether England should keep faith with their team manager, Martin Johnson, a post Henry has been linked with, he replied: "He would be in the bracket of someone who will have learned from a failed campaign. How else can you learn? If you think someone is good enough, give them the opportunity."

Henry said he was delighted for Stephen Donald who became the fourth outside-half used by the All Blacks in the tournament when he replaced the injured Aaron Cruden in the first-half.

Donald had been winding down his New Zealand contract after being left out of the World Cup squad, granted fishing leave before joining Bath at the start of next month. "I was catching whitebait and having a few beers when I got a call from Mils [Muliaina] a couple of weeks ago," said the 27-year-old Donald, whose early second-half penalty proved the difference between the sides. "I had had a number I did not recognise trying to get through to me.

"It turned out to be Ted [Henry] but I had deleted his number a while back. Mils told me to get to Auckland and join the squad. I guess I did not have the ideal preparation and having joined Bath I thought my international days were over.

"My fitness was not what it should be and I was glad I only had to play 50 minutes, but I never doubted my ability despite the criticism I took last year and I hope to play for the All Blacks again."

Donald has signed a two-year deal with Bath but will not be leaving for England just yet with the All Blacks going on a three-day tour of the country with the World Cup. "Ian McGeechan [the Bath director of rugby] is a big texter and I have no doubt there will be one waiting for me," he said. "I will get back to him in a few days. What has happened to me is still sinking in. I can't quite believe it."