THROUGH THICK 'N FIN

Smith's terror and tears at being named in Lions squad

- ADAM HATHAWAY

FIN SMITH has revealed that the horror show of a lead-up to the biggest day of rugby life - when he got picked by the Lions - nearly broke him.

Unlike most squad announcements, players are completely in the dark and, true to tradition, head coach Andy Farrell (inset) did not give anyone a heads-up ahead of Thursday's reveal.

The fly-half, whose grandfather Tom Elliot was a Lion in 1955, was no certainty with Finn Russell, Marcus Smith, Sam Prendergast, Jack Crowley, George Ford and Owen Farrell in the mix.

Northampton's Smith watched tour manager Ieuan Evans read out the names on TV at Saints' training complex with other contenders like Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock and Tommy Freeman.

Brutally, he was made to wait but Smith could celebrate his 23rd birthday yesterday knowing he is off to Australia on the ultimate rugby tour. Smith said: