 Nyorai mberi kweiyi ndima - Musi wa24 Kukadzi 1998, mushure mekunge Brian Ashton asiya basa mushure mekutenderera kwekutanga kwe1998 Five Nations Championship, Gatland akagadzwa semurairidzi weIreland. Mutambo wake wokutanga achitungamirira waiva wokurwisa chikwata cheFrance chaiva nesimba icho chakanga chatowana mapoinzi anopfuura 70 mumitambo yavo miviri yokutanga. Zvisinei, Gatland akatungamirira Ireland kukundwa kwakasimba paStade de France muParis. Ireland yakapedza iri panzvimbo yokupedzisira ine mapoinzi zero. Gatland nokukurumidza akavandudza kuita kweIreland. Izvi zvaisanganisira kukunda 2923 pamusoro pevaWelsh mu1999 Five Nations Championshipuye kukunda Argentina 3224. Ireland yakava nemushandirapamwe wakaodza mwoyo we1999 Rugby World Cup uye yakatadza kusvika kumaquarter fainari mushure mekurasikirwa zvishoma neArgentina mumutambo wekutamba 2824. 