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Three Argentines were try scorers in the Italian United Rugby Championship (URC) derby on Saturday. Ignacio Mendy and Tomás Albornoz scored for Benetton while Gerónimo Prisciantelli crossed for Zebre. Benetton won the encounter 34-16 at home in Treviso.
Gerónimo Prisciantelli was the first of the three Argentines into the try zone. The uncapped 24-year-old scored after an assist from Argentine scrum-hall Gonzalo García. Prisciantelli played the match at fullback.
The second of the three Argentine tries went to winger Ignacio Mendy. The Puma scored for Benetton in the 38th minute. He went close to scoring a second try late in the match. Tomás Albornoz did score late in the match. Playing as a replacement, the fly half scored in the right corner.
In addition to Prisciantelli and García, Zebre also featured Argentine prop Juan Pitinari and flanker Guido Volpi. Meanwhile, Benetton had Bautista Bernasconi and Thomas Gallo as replacement hooker and loose head respectively.
Of all the Argentines involved in the match, Thomas Gallo is the only one who featured for Los Pumas at Rugby World Cup 2023. Albornoz played in the 2023 Rugby Championship but Michael Cheika opted for veteran Nicolás Sánchez and utility Santiago Carreras as his fly halves.
Albornoz will a contender for fly half under Felipe Contepomi in 2024. The same applies to Domingo Miotti who is in fine form this season for Oyonnax in France’s Top 14. Prisciantelli is another option. He covers fly half, fullback and inside center.
Gonzalo García is in line for a Pumas recall. He missed 2022 through injury and was called-up for the 2023 international campaign. He was not deemed ready for the World Cup so missed out on receiving game-time during the Rugby Championship and warm-up matches.
Contepomi will also be certain to analyze Ignacio Mendy closely. The age of Juan Imhoff combined with Rodrigo Isgró’s involvement with Los Pumas 7’s will mean more wingers will be in consideration in 2024.
