The Canadian flyer is bracing himself for his third meeting with the Welsh powerhouse ahead of their Pool Five clash against Northampton.
Hassler did a fine marking job on North for much of the game at the Liberty last January, denying him space and repeatedly knocking him down with ferocious tackles.
But the 6ft 4in, 17st 2lb former Scarlet needs only one chance and when it arrived he took it with a devastating burst of pace that saw him jet clear of Hassler for a spectacular 75-metre solo try.
That moment still haunts the in-form 23-year-old, who added a Champions Cup try to his three league scores against Treviso last weekend. And he is looking forward to showing his defensive mettle against the Northampton flyer.
He said: “George North is the most dangerous opponent I have faced, because he is such a hybrid. He’s a big, strong guy who also has quick feet, so it’s easy to find yourself flat-footed and thinking he might go over you when instead he comes up with a bit of gas on the outside. It will be fun to face him again.”
Hassler has flourished in South Wales since arriving from Alberta’s Prairie Wolf Pack at the start of last season. And he credits his improved work-rate for his rapid rise to Ospreys’ stardom.
He said: “I think my understanding of the game has improved. It’s not just stuff that you do with the ball. It’s also the work-rate every winger needs to have off the ball. I’ve had to do a lot of work on my positioning and I think that has got better as well.”
