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' Six 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.
While the Lions lock watched from a seat in the West Stand, England cut loose by launching the points blitz which underpinned its 30-17 success.
Gatland has made 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.
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.
"At the time I thought it would jeopardise my international career.
"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.
"I've been given this second opportunity now, but I see every game as an opportunity. I have got it this week to obviously put some wrongs right - or a wrong right - from last week."
On Sunday and Monday Jones was greeted by newspaper headlines such as 'Alun-Sin Jones' and 'Stupid Boy.'
And he added: "Immediately afterwards I had a bit of abuse on a few social networking sides, which is fine.
"People are able to vent and immediately afterwards it's an end of the world situation, apocalypse now, whatever you want to call it.
"Slowly, people change and there is a bit of support out there. It's funny, it takes something like that to realise how much people do think of you.
"I would like to thank everybody who has given me their support, and at the same time thank everyone who has given me abuse because a lot of the time it is the abuse that spurs you more than the people who support you.
"I didn't read any papers until I went to my parents' on Sunday. I had a quick look, then went back to bed.
"People are entitled to their opinion, and my act was completely stupid, but the over-reaction and vilification? It's a bit sad when some people have to do that.
"I wouldn't say it was the