(CNN)When Canada lines up for its first game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, against Italy in Fukuoka, there is likely to be a swelling of national pride and just a smidgeon of residual relief.
Having left it to the last possible juncture to qualify for the four-yearly showcase — which brings tension, considering Canada has competed at every single Rugby World Cup — the Canucks won the repechage event in Marseille in November and go into World Cup Pool B with New Zealand, South Africa, Namibia and those Italians.
It has been a slog to get to this point.
