Zebo happy with US consolation prize after Lions omission

Simon Zebo walks into the room, that beaming smile spread across his face and hand already outstretched in warm welcome.

His default setting is friendly. The winger has won as many admirers for his happy-go-lucky approach to life as the quality of his game. He was even spotted beaming away in one TV interview shortly after injury stalled his progress earlier this season.

Yet Zebo is human like the rest of us and admits he lost his trademark bounce last month after Andy Irvine took a deep breath in London and revealed the names of the 2013 Lions.