Smith was frustrated with his performances on the Lions tour of Australia.
He started the pre-tour match against Argentina in Dublin, but failed to apply pressure on first-choice 10 Finn Russell, with Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell preferred on the bench during the Test series.
However, he relished being part of an institution that his maternal grandfather Tom Elliot toured South Africa with in 1955, and mixing with players he is usually playing against.
Twelve Leinster players were part of the initial 38-strong Lions squad.
Northampton, who had beaten Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals five days before the squad announcement, provided four in Smith, Tommy Freeman, Henry Pollock and Alex Mitchell.
“As a life experience it was amazing in terms of the some of the memories I made and the people I met,” added Smith.
“It was just a great group of people
“I thought [Leinster second row and fellow Lion] James Ryan was going to be very different to me. Playing against him he is a bit nasty, but he is an [Northampton and England second row] Alex Coles prototype – both very intelligent, very dry sense of humour, very funny. I got on with him very well.
“We didn’t mention [Northampton’s win over Leinster] very much but our coach Richard Wigglesworth kept bringing it up. He thought it was hilarious. I didn’t mind too much being reminded.”
