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Gerónimo Prisciantelli was named Player of the Match for Zebre Parma on Friday. Zebre Parma were 22-17 winners over Edinburgh in Scotland. The win gives the Italian side completed an historic double as it means that the club has completed consecutive wins outside of Italy for the first time; Zebre Parma defeated Ulster in Northern Ireland in January.
Zebre Parma’s 15-14 win over Ulster came with Gonzalo García winning the Players of the Match award in Belfast. He backed it up by scoring in the win over Edinburgh in Scotland. García had another strong performance though it was Prisciantelli who was chosen as the best player in the match. The fullback had a try assist.
Prisciantelli is set to play for Argentina. The regular fullback for Zebre Parma trained with Los Pumas in 2024 but is yet to play a test match. His form in the United Rugby Championship (URC) suggests that he is genuinely in the frame as a Puma in waiting. The positioning of the British & Irish Lions vs Argentina match in June means the chances of regular fullback, Juan Cruz Mallía, playing in the match are low.
In addition to Prisciantelli and García, four other Argentines were involved in the match. Fellow uncapped Argentine Bautista Stavile started at flanker. He made 19 tackles and won 2 turnovers for Zebre Parma.
Prop Juan Pitinari was also involved. He made a key play by winning a turnover penalty two meters out of the try zone. It came when Zebre Parma were down to 13 players. Prisciantelli had been yellow carded and Guido Volpi red carded. Volpi is also Argentine and like Prisciantelli, Stavile and Pitinari, Volpi is eligible to play for Italy.
The match also featured the return of Emiliano Boffelli. Argentina’s starting right winger from Rugby World Cup 2023 played 43 minutes for Edinburgh in his first match of rugby for 10 months. Injury saw him miss the entirety of Argentina’s test matches in 2024.
| MATCH HIGHLIGHTS |
| PUMA IN WAITING – GERÓNIMO PRISCIANTELLI |
