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When you’re playing New Zealand in rugby, just like when you’re playing Canada in hockey, you just can’t afford to make mistakes.

Up against the powerful Black Ferns, Women’s World Cup favourites, Thursday in Dublin, Canada just made too many.

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Despite a 48-5 scoreline, it was a thrilling match, with the Canadians making plenty of brave attacks.

But the scoreline really does tell the whole story: New Zealand did what Canada struggled to do. They finished.

“They are physically stronger, they are technically stronger, they are tactically stronger,” Canadian coach Francois Ratier said after the match, played in front of a boisterous crowd at University College Dublin’s Billings Park.

“There was heart but it’s not enough you know. You need to be better than just heart. The Black Ferns played better than us and they deserve the victory.”