Piri who? The kick was barely over the goalposts before New Zealand forgot its former saviour and a new hero was born.



"Arise, Stephen Donald," the internet posting said, amid a wave feverish fandom.



"We the people decree upon thee the OBE, the MBE, a second OBE, Poet Laureate status and the Nobel Prize in kicking."



Donald, called into the All Blacks squad after first five-eighths Dan Carter and Colin Slade were ruled out, took the field as Aaron Cruden went down injured in the Rugby World Cup final against France last night.



Arguably the most-maligned figure in New Zealand rugby, with at least three Facebook pages bemoaning his return, Donald's entrance to the field was met with a collective groan.



But as "Beaver" took his winning kick, nailed it, and grinned, the nation was forced to take it all back - and what better way than with a quick internet edit.



As with Piri Weepu's rise to greatness last week, all memes were suddenly on Donald - from his many nicknames to his undersized All Black jersey.



Twitter started first:



"Shot #StephenDonald. Well done, way to lead from the back in your short shirt!," wrote Whetu TeUa.



"@The1Shinigami its a muscle top!!haha!!#StephenDonald was fishing man when he got the call, no time to get him to the tailor!#RWC2011" said Ilhaam Osman.



Within minutes, Donald's Wikipedia page had been changed to read: "He slayed 7 dragons at the RWC after party and was solely responsible for preventing Nuclear War in the North Island of New Zealand."



By this morning the page was back on track. However, in its wake, Photoshop wars had begun.



"Piri who?" read one poster, put up by Marcus Figueroa @thexm4rk on Twitter.



"I told you guys I had this," read another on the "We Back Stephen Donald For RWC Glory 2011" Facebook page, which was revelling in its success.



Even a "nek minnut" parody popped up - with too many expletives to be repeated here.



On the message boards, Donald had turned from "zero to hero".



"Always knew he had it in him!" wrote Sparky on sliverfern.com, which was followed by a rush of apologies from fans who regretted their earlier doubts.



Some turned poetic - fitting, they said, for such a redemption story.



"It's a tale of biblical proportions, utterly crucified and then resurected and redeemed, beautiful," wrote forum member deepblue.



"Go overseas with pride, you're forgiven all your 'sins'," said Sportboy.



"As of now, I henceforth decree, he shalt be Duck no longer. He is Stephen Donald, All Black first-five, Rugby World Cup winner."