Wales forward Alun-Wyn Jones has revealed the full agony of his Twickenham sin-bin torture and admitted: "I thought it would jeopardise my international career."
Jones has avoided the humiliation of being dropped for Wales' RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday. But it could easily have been a different story after England scored 17 unanswered points following what Jones accepted was "a stupid, idiotic" trip on hooker Dylan Hartley.
Recalling the first-half incident, Jones said: "It was more of a reaction, probably one of the worst reactions I've had on the rugby pitch."
While the Lions lock watched from a seat in the West Stand, England cut loose by launching the points blitz which underpinned their 30-17 success.
Gatland has made just two changes for Scotland - replacing wing Tom James with his Cardiff Blues colleague Leigh Halfpenny and calling up Jonathan Thomas instead of lock Luke Charteris - meaning Jones lives to fight another day.
Jones though, is the first to admit it could have been a completely different story, especially after Gatland criticised the 24-year-old during a post-match television interview.
"At the time I thought it would jeopardise my international career," he added. "You've got to have that sort of view when you make those mistakes because obviously the opportunities to play are few and far between.
"Shaun Edwards (Wales assistant coach) spoke to me at half-time so I knew the severity of the viewpoint from the management, and rightly so.
"I wasn't aware of it (Gatland's interview) but I had a few texts and I realised Gats was just taking his honest line as usual, and I fully respect him for that.
"When he first came in (as Wales coach) he said he was going to be honest to players, on and off the field. When he first said that to us I thought it was very refreshing for the players. I think it's a cut-throat mentality that we haven't had before, if you like, in the rugby fraternity in Wales and I think Gats is just bringing that off-field southern hemisphere cutting edge."
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