Disgraced Duncan McRae has hit back at critics following his assault on Irish Lion Ronan O'Gara.

The New South Wales Waratahs full-back was widely condemned after television pictures of him pinning O'Gara to the ground and raining punches on the Munsterman's head were broadcast all over the world.

That was during the match Lions coach Graham Henry labelled ``a black day for our sport'' following the tourists' 41-24 win. McRae was sent off and later handed a seven-week ban by the International Rugby Board.

But after spending a week in hiding McRae, who spent last season in the English Premiership with Saracens, said: ``There are some people with pretty short memories out there.''

The softly-spoken fly-half is keen to remind his detractors of the broken rib he received from Lions captain Martin Johnson while playing for the London club against Leicester in December.

``Johnson almost put a hole in my stomach when I was lying on the ground. He then trampled all over me just to finish the job,'' McRae told Australian daily the Sun-Herald.

``I didn't see people trying to run him out of the game. I want to make it clear that had nothing to do with what happened between me and O'Gara, but it's worth remembering, don't you think.''

McRae has been amazed by the reaction to the attack on O'Gara which saw the young Irishman leave the field with blood running from his face.

He has received threats from Ireland by e-mail and has been accosted in the streets by British backpackers.

``I want to make it very clear that I am sorry for what happened,'' he said. ``I regret it and I hope I catch up with him and say so in person.

``Still, I don't think the things that have been said about me are fair at all. I've been called a thug, a cheap-shot merchant and a psycho. That stuff really affects my family.

``I can wear it even though it is very wrong, but for my parents and my girlfriend, well that's not very fair on them.''

McRae had never been sent off or suspended in his nine-year professional career before the incident and insists that he was severely provoked by O'Gara.

He said: ``In the first half I wore one in the gob from O'Gara and I thought to myself: `That's OK'. In the second half, he gave me another one. Then in a tackle he kicked out at me and I ended up on top of him and I just went at him.

``It takes a lot for me to lose my temper and it's wrong to hit a bloke on the field. Most of all I'm sorry for the fans that I let down. I hope they can forgive me when I play for the Waratahs again.''