It's all about perspective.
For some, Stuart Lancaster has presided over just one win since taking over as Connacht head coach, and with Saturday’s trip to Thomond Park their last outing until the end of November, the odds suggest that solitary win on the opening game of the season will be all they have to show before the international break.
For those of a glass half-full disposition, being edged out away to Cardiff and losing to a formidable Bulls side courtesy of a missed conversion in the final minute is far from removed from a crisis.
Having played 20 minutes down to 14 men after Josh Murphy’s first-half red card and still almost rallying to victory, it gives more context to their current standing, albeit a small sample size.
With the home tie against Scarlets postponed due to Storm Amy, it means Connacht’s visit to Limerick is just their fourth outing of the campaign as players get to grips with Lancaster's game plan. With the upcoming international window, Lancaster’s side don’t return to action until over a month later against the Sharks.
Monday was focused on reviewing the footage against the Bulls before any page can be turned to a Munster side fresh from an energising win over Leinster.
Lancaster feels his side are moving in the right direction.
"Are the reasons for losing down to systemic, huge issues that we have to solve? Or is it down to little things we know we can do better? Such as organising ourselves better on the kick-chase," he told RTÉ Sport.
"We are not a million miles away from where we want to be.
"I am more a performance-based coach, so I can see I can see the trajectory is going in the right direction. We played a team that was second in the league last year and we came 13th. They were fully loaded on the back of a defeat
"We played against a high-quality team and lost on the final play.
"There is a strong belief in our group that we are going in the right direction."
With the international window coming into view, after the Munster game Connacht will be without a game for 35 days by time the Sharks arrive in Galway.
It means Mack Hansen, ruled out of Ireland’s trip to Chicago to take on New Zealand, may miss little provincial action, with Lancaster not ruling out the versatile winger featuring at some stage for Ireland in the remaining November internationals against Japan, Australia and South Africa..
Denis Buckley (hamstring) joins long-term injury casualties Oisin Dowling (knee) and Temi Lasisi (knee), while Bundee Aki, Finlay Bealham, Caolin Blade, Shayne Bolton and Cian Prendergast won’t be available this weekend having linked up with Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad.
Shamus Hurley-Langton could come back into contention if his recent shoulder issue has fully resolved, while lock Niall Murray and backrow Paul Boyle have resumed full training.
History isn’t on Connacht’s side for Saturday.
The memorable 2015 win at Thomond Park was their first at the venue in 29 years, but since then, have just managed one more away victory, a 20-24 success six years ago in the quickly forgotten Rainbow Cup.
The former Leinster senior coach watched on with interest as Clayton McMillan’s side dismantled their hosts at Croke Park, insisting he wasn’t surprised by the result, or indeed the nature of it as they moved to four wins from four in the competition.
"It’s a huge challenge for us," he said.
"We need to make sure that we go down there believing we can win, putting our best performance together. That’s the only way we are going to come away with a result.
"It’s our first interpro of the season and there is nothing that gets the juices flowing like an interpro derby."
