The year 2020 had started well for Lester Etien.
To everyone's surprise, the Stade Français Paris winger (25) had taken advantage of Fabien Galthié's broad policy of openness to be called up to the France team.
The new coach of the XV of France had not hesitated, when taking office, to call on former residents of Pro D2, the best example being the back of Montpellier Anthony Bouthier, who played in Vannes there still has a year and a half.
In the end, Lester Etier was not entitled to his first cape, but he is in the radars of the French staff.
"READ ALSO -
Didier Lacroix:" At the Stade Toulousain, our goal is not to live under the umbrella of the State "
The recognition of a puncher's talent, which was illustrated last weekend on the lawn of the Section Paloise.
If the Parisian club was finally bowed (29-27), Etien, he came to light by signing a hat-trick.
Doubling his total of achievements this season, now increased to six tries in ten matches.
Until then, when he had scored, the “Pink Soldiers” had won, at Jean-Bouin, against La Rochelle (35-12), Bordeaux-Bègles (26-16) and Toulon (24-23).
At the Hameau, all had not been perfect for the Parisian winger who had made a mistake at the end of the match, allowing the Béarnais to snatch the victory thanks to a try of the hooker Quentin Lespiaucq transformed by Antoine Hastoy at the Mermaid.
“As soon as we put our game in place, we were dangerous, we had situations to score.
And then there were errors in touch, careless mistakes.
We had an action to kill the match but Lester Etien tried something impossible ”, regretted the Parisian manager Gonzalo Quesada.
“I stopped because the mentality in football didn't appeal to me anymore. My friends took me for a fool ”
Lester Etien
If he has obviously taken a step forward with Paris, Lester Etien can still be improved.
Its room for improvement is obvious.
He knew how to wait for his chance, listen to the advice of elders, such as Gaël Fickou and Jonathan Danty.
When he arrived at Porte d'Auteuil, he confided that he was living “a childhood dream”.
“I've always lived in the Paris region so for me it's great to be here.
I have my family next door, my friends.
Everything that's necessary.
I can not ask for better, ”he explained in the columns of the
Parisian
.
A pure product of Ile-de-France training, Lester Etien only came to rugby late at 16, after playing football for ten years.
"I stopped because the mentality in football no longer pleased me, he had dropped in
L'Equipe
.
My friends took me for a fool.
I chose rugby because I already liked contact and the sport has always attracted me.
I was lucky that it took quickly. "
Express ascent.
He started at the Créteil-Choisy club (Val-de-Marne) and attracted the attention of the Massy club (Essonne), a veritable nursery for the Paris region.
Today, he is not disoriented in Paris since he has found former teammates from Massic such as Sekou Macalou, Julien Delbouis or Clément Daguin.
The final stages, "our goal at the end of the season"
Despite the setback conceded in extremis against Pau, the Stade Français is in full revival after a new difficult season last year (last before the end of the matches after the 17th day).
We therefore remain cautious on the side of the Parisians.
But, at the end of November, Lester Etien had recognized it: to be in the first six and therefore to participate again in the finals, "it is our objective at the end of the season".
While remaining "humble".
Saturday, in Jean-Bouin, the players of Gonzalo Quesada must restart the forward march against Brive.
Faced with "Coujous" who remain on three successes in a row in Top 14 (Agen, Castres, Lyon) and will not make any complex.
But Lester Etien will try to get 2021 to start as well as 2020.
Read also
Calendar and results Top 14
