Rugby: Higginbotham doesn't regret McCaw attack

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw was kneed and headbutted by Wallabies flanker Scott Higginbotham during the Bledisloe Cup. Photo / Getty Images

Wallabies flanker Scott Higginbotham says he has no regrets for his attack on All Black skipper Richie McCaw in last month's Bledisloe Cup test.

Higginbotham was handed a two week ban for kneeing and headbutting McCaw in the 18-18 draw in Brisbane.

Higginbotham told the Sydney Morning Herald he didn't regret the attack and would not change his trademark gritty playing style.

"I don't regret anything I did, it was just football I suppose," he said.

"I don't think I'd really change anything ... I've been playing for a number of years now and seeing as that's the first [suspension] I think I'm doing all right to be honest."

The 26-year-old wasn't considered for the Wallabies' European tour due to the ban but with lock Rob Simmons being slapped with an eight week ban last week for a dangerous tackle on French flanker Yannick Nyanga, Higginbotham received the call up to join the squad for the final two tests.

Higginbotham told the paper that he wasn't too happy when the ban cost him on a spot on the European tour.

"It was a tough week because straight after the game I got told I was getting cited on both counts," he said.

"It took about a day or so and then I got the call and the suspension, and then I had to wait another couple of days to find out whether I was going on-tour, so that was three blows in the space of a week ... I was pretty filthy that I wasn't going on tour."

The Wallabies face Italy in Florence this weekend before wrapping up their tour against Wales in Cardiff.

- nzherald.co.nz