Rugby/Six Nations Championship: France centre Benoit Baby says he regrets butting Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll last weekend and is hoping for clemency at a Six Nations disciplinary committee today.

"I deeply regret what I did," the 21-year-old centre told journalists yesterday. "I never tried to harm another player in my playing life, I never received a yellow card, was never involved in a brawl and never had the slightest problem with a referee."

Baby, playing in his first international, was warned by referee Tony Spreadbury after butting O'Driscoll in a ruck during France's 26-19 win in Ireland last Saturday. The referee did not send him off but he was cited on Monday.

"During the game, it was a relief because it would have been a disaster to be red-carded in my first international," Baby said. "After the game, I thought the incident was behind me because O'Driscoll came to our dressing-room and offered me his jersey. We also had a chat at the official dinner, I apologised and he said he would not bear a grudge. On Monday evening, I had a very bad surprise when I was told that I had been cited. I hope O'Driscoll's reaction will help me."

Baby now faces a three-man disciplinary hearing today, which will be chaired by Robert Horner of England. He will travel to England with France's team manager Jo Maso and the French Federation's lawyer Jean-Pierre Marque. "I think Benoit could be banned," Maso said. "I know the commissioners because it's not the first time I have had to plead for a player and I know clemency is not their strong point."

France players Christian Califano and Olivier Magne were suspended for six and three weeks respectively for butting opponents in 1999 and 2000. Magne was also banned for 23 days for stamping in 2002 and Serge Betsen was handed a six-week suspension for kicking Matt Dawson in the World Cup semi-final. Betsen also appeared before a Heineken European Cup disciplinary committee on the Wednesday before this season's England game for tripping Wasps centre Stuart Abbott during a match with his Biarritz club. The flanker was cleared.

"Baby's infringement is real and it's a shame because Benoit had a superb game, scoring his first try in his first international and being named man of the match," Maso said. "He did something that we don't want to see on a rugby pitch but I shall defend him as a man not for what he did as a player."

Coach Bernard Laporte, who named Baby in his team for their final Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday, said France would accept the ruling of the commission if Baby was suspended. "If there is a sanction, I hope it will teach him a lesson," he said.

Meanwhile, the only change from the squad which won in Ireland is the return of replacement hooker William Servat, who was ruled out at the last minute through a knee injury suffered during training.

FRANCE (v Italy): J Laharrague; C Heymans, Y Jauzion, B Baby, C Dominici; Y Delaigue, D Yachvili; S Marconnet, S Bruno, N Mas, F Pelous (capt), J Thion, S Betsen, Y Nyanga, J Bonnaire. Replacements: W Servat, P de Villiers, P Pape, G Lamboley, P Mignoni, F Michalak, D Marty.