French midfield back Mathieu Bastareaud knows it’s an incident he can’t erase.

But he says he regrets and apologises for his false claim of assault in Wellington during France’s 2009 rugby tour.

“It’s part of me and I have a big regret of this,” Bastareaud told NZ Newswire on Wednesday.

“I just want to say sorry to all the people and the city of Wellington.”

Part of a 35-strong squad for the upcoming three-Test series against the All Blacks, Bastareaud also wants to move on.

“I just want to look forward and try to be the best for my team and my country, and maybe change the opinion people have of me,” he said.

Four years ago, then 20-year-old Bastareaud claimed that cuts and bruises on his face were the result of being attacked in a Wellington street.

He later said they were caused by a fall in his hotel bedroom after having drunk too much.

His rehabilitation resulted in a return to the French side in 2010, but he missed out on the 2011 World Cup.

Bastareaud was one of eight late arrivals on the present tour, which opens with the first Test in Auckland on Saturday night.

Those players were involved in the French Top 14 final last weekend, when Bastareaud’s club, European champions Toulon, suffered a shock 19-14 defeat at the hands of Castres.

While the first Test might come too soon for him, Bastareaud will relish any chance he gets on tour to lock horns with what he described as the premier midfield combination in the game.

He said it would be an honour to play against someone he is often compared to, Ma’a Nonu.

“He’s powerful and he’s been able to improve his rugby,” he said.

“With Conrad Smith, they are the best pair of centres in the world.”