When Mark Cueto got his Lions call-up, the Sale wing thought it was part of an elaborate wind-up by club boss Philippe Saint-Andre.
The scepticism of England's leading dangerman - he has scored eight tries in eight internationals this season - is understandable considering he missed out on the initial squad to tour New Zealand.
 Cueto has scored eight tries in eight Tests for England |
Only when Iain Balshaw pulled out injured did Cueto finally get the call, albeit in slightly comical fashion.
"We'd been training and the Sale guys in the Lions squad had been given permission to finish early and join the squad in Cardiff," he said, "but I was still training.
"Then Philippe came out and said I was needed in Cardiff. I thought he was winding me up but I still went and got showered.
"Then afterwards Louise Ramsay [the Lions team manager] called and confirmed I was in the squad.
"So I got in the car with the rest of Sale's Lions contingent to go to Cardiff. But it was a bit embarrassing as I was in my Sale kit and only had enough stuff with me for the day.
"Added to that when I got down there people weren't sure what I was doing. They didn't know whether to congratulate me or not. I felt a little out of place."
The 25-year-old, though, is used to late arrivals. Last September he was nowhere near England reckoning after being omitted from Andy Robinson's 60-man elite player squad.
But Cueto stuck at it and blitzed his way through three November internationals and the Six Nations, and to European Challenge Cup glory with Sale.
"At the start of the year I wasn't even deemed one of the 60 best players in England," he said. "But I got into the England side and feel I acquitted myself pretty well.
"The plan is to mirror that for the Lions - it's certainly not out of the question."
Cueto, who only took up the game at the age of 17 after being persuaded to play in a friendly, has yet to talk to the man whose Lions shirt he took.
"What can you say?" he said. "It must be absolutely gutting for Balsh. I know how disappointed I was to initially miss out on selection and it must be doubly bad for him.
"I'm not sure whether I played my way into the squad late [Cueto scored eight tries in the five games for Sale after Woodward's squad announcement] but I think I'm playing well."
Having been the final member included in the squad, he knows he is well down Woodward's pecking order despite the former England coach, who never selected Cueto during his England tenure, insisting no-one is a certainty for Test selection.
But he added: "In a way, anything on this tour is a bonus. In many ways there's no pressure on me, which could slightly work in my favour. If I don't get into the Test team I don't see that as a failure.
"Whatever happens, my season couldn't have gone any better. This time last year all I'd done was play some A internationals. Since then I've broken into the England team and scored eight tries in eight Tests."
Since teaming up with the Lions, Cueto has spent most of his time with the Sale and England contingent - "it's only natural initially," he said.
But the rapport is beginning to build with the "other nations", most noticeably in a recent ribbing from the Welsh players over a photo of the Sale speedster in their Grand Slam-winning programme.
"Martyn Williams was signing an autograph for a fan on a page where I was getting totally dumped by Gavin Henson," recalled Cueto.
"The Welsh lads were having a good old laugh - and the English players come to think of it - but I'll get them back."
At six foot and 15 stone, you tend to believe him.
MMIX
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The Welsh lads were having a good old laugh - and the English players come to think of it - but I'll get them back