Rugby: Wide threat for Canada in huge showdown with Italy

OITA, Japan: Canada winger Jeff Hassler took a year off professional rugby to drink in life and assess his options, but should prove crucial to his side's chances of beating Italy in their Pool B World Cup opener in Fukuoka on Thursday.

Hassler's combination with the South African-born Van der Merwe, who is appearing in his fourth World Cup and has carved out a strong professional career in Britain, most prominently with the Glasgow Warriors, should prove crucial. Hassler played for five seasons with Ospreys in the Pro14 but unexpectedly quit at the end of the 2018 season thinking he might take some time away from the game.While he spent time training with English club Harlequins he decided that he definitely needed a break with Welsh media reporting at the time that he was considering learning how to sail.

He was brought straight into the Canada team by Jones for the Pacific Nations Championship and scored two tries against Tonga in just his second test back.

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