James Lowe on waiting for Lions selection: 'It was an emotional rollercoaster'
Leinster and Ireland winger James Lowe has described the wait for his name to be called out for the British and Irish Lions squad as 'absolutely horrible'.
Lowe was one of 15 Irish players selected by head coach Andy Farrell for the tour of Australia, in what will be his first tour.
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Despite being expected by many pundits and fans to be selected, and even starting in the summer tests, Lowe admitted the wait was a nervous one, as he watched the squad announced on television.
Looking back on the day, Lowe said it was a special moment for him and his family.
"A lot of things go on before the team is actually announced, but it is absolutely horrible.
"When the team starts getting announced, you are thinking of the other people you are competing against, I heard Elliot Daly's name and I thought oh no, there's a left winger.
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"When I hear the boys in here's names, I am celebrating as well, I was a rollercoaster of emotions sitting there with my wife.
"Everyone is telling you your name is coming, but until you hear it on the screen, hear it and being announced, you don't really believe it, it looks kind of surreal.
"When Hugo Keenan got announced, I was like L is after K, and then it was Blair Kinghorn, I thought I was next. I thought there is still a chance I was after this.
"It was a huge sigh of relief and an amazing feeling."
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The squad announcement was just days after Leinster's shock defeat to Northampton in the Champions Cup semi-final, as the English side lost to Bordeaux on Saturday.
Attention now turns to the URC quarter-final against the Scarlets on Saturday, as Leinster search for their first trophy since 2021.
In the fallout from the Northampton defeat, much was made of how Leinster's game management, as they turned down chances to score penalties and kicked for touch or decided tap and go moves.
For Lowe, he said, while he backs Leinster's decisions in big games, he is a fan of taking three points in knockout rugby.
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"I would never question anyone who has that responsibility, but its knockout rugby, and if we can accumulate scoreboard pressure, I am all about that.
"If you look at that spreadsheet that was doing the circulation, Jesus Christ they are overpaid and overworked at the moment anyway."
"Three, six, nine, do with a bit of scoreboard pressure, keep teams away, keep it a two-score game, especially if you get an early penalty, I don't see why you wouldn't take the three, reset and get a good exit off that.
"I'll pass that on to the powers that be above my pay grade, the traffic light system would be a nice wee thing."
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