Toulouse have kicked off their Top 14 season with two victories and three consecutive defeats, the latter something that last happened to the French heavyweights 36 seasons ago.
But embattled long-time coach Guy Noves has insisted that there is no need for alarm at his side's misfiring form in the French elite, adding he would do his utmost to steer the ship clear of the league's many "icebergs".
Noves' troops went down 13-9 to Clermont in their latest defeat, at home, closing down the match by opting to kick an injury-time penalty for a bonus defensive point rather than go for a converted try to draw the scores level.
That decision did not sit well with the Toulouse faithful packed into the Ernest Wallon Stadium, the team departing the field of play to loud jeers and whistles.
It was exactly the start to a fresh season 60-year-old Noves did not want after last season's relative debacle when Toulouse failed to make it to the semi-finals of the Top 14 for the first time in 20 years.
And while Noves' squad finished atop their European Cup group, which included minnows Zebre and the weakest Irish province, Connacht, the former four-time champions were handed a memorable 47-23 pasting by Munster in the quarter-finals.
But Noves, who has guided Toulouse to 10 national titles and four European Cup trophies, put on a brave face when discussing the current difficulties his team were facing.
"We have no reason to be alarmed," he said. "That's not to say a blind eye will be turned to the need to improve our rugby.
"We must continue to work, and above all not to panic - the season's long. The dog's barking, the caravan passes."
Noves, a former international wing, was also harsh in his critique of the match against Clermont.
"We would have preferred not to have lost this match but we deserved to lose it. That's fact.
"Now, we're not going to spen the season dwelling on it, we'll try to look ahead."
International wing/full-back Maxime Medard added: "Yes, we're in a state of emergency today, but we must continue to be positive, move forward and not stay pessimistic.
"It's only the fifth round of matches, we mustn't see ourselves outside the top six or the top two, it happens very quickly in this championship. We'll fight right through to the death."
After two seasons without a trophy, Toulouse can at least console themselves with the fact that Top 14 rivals Montpellier, Clermont, Castres and Toulon have all also been beaten at home.
But the Red and Black's woes are mainly on the road, the former four-time European champions already suffering two confidence-sapping away defeats this season, to newly-promoted La Rochelle (37-25) and Brive (26-19).
That latter loss extended their winless away run in the Top 14 to seven months.
Next up for Toulouse is a tricky trip on Saturday to Paris to play Racing-Metro, the team that beat them in the end-of-season play-offs last year.
"They're a club that are progressing very strongly, who beat us last season here and who now boast several international star players. It's an impressive team," said Noves.
Another away match follows, against Bayonne, before Toulouse host Stade Francais and defending Top 14 champions and two-time European Cup title holders Toulon.
With forwards coach Yannick Bru handpicked to the France coaching staff, ex-club hooker Wiliam Servat is still struggling to get the best out of a pack where the front row has a catalogue of absentees, mainly through injury.
"We've got to ask ourselves some serious questions on quite a few things," acknowledged Medard.
"If we find the answers, they'll become evident in some weeks, but for the moment we still haven't found the answers."
Noves added: "Our actions must be more accurate. When you have a three-on-one and you miss a pass, it's a question of application.
"We had the means of winning that match" against Clermont, mused the coach who has been with Toulouse for more than 20 years, and before that as a player.
"I'm under no pressure to lower my shoulders or likewise stand tall in my boots. Simply put, my duty is to be responsible for my ship and make sure we touch as few icebergs as possible."
Source: AFP
