Paris - French international full-back Clement Poitrenaud warned his countrymen on Monday not to expect too much too early this season in the build-up to the 2011 World Cup.

Poitrenaud, on his first day back at training with European champions Toulouse, insisted that next year's tournament in New Zealand will determine how many of the top French players begin the season, which gets underway on August 12.

"A World Cup is not insignificant," said Poitrenaud. "I've had the chance to play in two and it's true that the seasons going into it are always a bit odd.

"From my experience, I know you mustn't put too much pressure on too early. You have to work to be on top form at that time and be able to seize the chance when it comes."

France enjoyed a succesful season last year, winning the Six Nations Grand Slam in some style, before falling to earth with a resounding thump on their tour of South Africa and Argentina.

After losing to the world champions in Cape Town they were then heavily beaten 41-13 by the Pumas in Buenos Aires, their heaviest ever defeat against the South Americans.

Poitrenaud, 28, admitted that the scars of that tour -- and that Argentine defeat in particular -- are still with him.

"The psychological work of the first days of my holiday was committed to getting over this blow," he said.

"We are going to have to analyse the defeat and understand how we allowed it to happen after just winning the Grand Slam.

"A month's holiday did me some good and I am very happy to hook up with my (Toulouse) team-mates again. It is always fun to get together again having finished the previous season with a title."

Poitrenaud, however, like his fellow internationals, is unlikely to feature in Toulouse's first Top 14 game against newly promoted Agen on August 13.

"I am going to have to get my fitness levels up first. We have two weeks to work hard before the Top 14 starts. I don't know if we will play in the first game but I don't think it would be wise.

"It is tough that we only have two weeks of preparation for 11 months of competition. It is much too short and if anyone is looking for reasons for our bad tour with les Bleus, you can look at that.

"What is certain is that we want to be able to prepare ourselves properly physically.

"The other thing we mustn't forget, though, is that our club performances are extremely important, especially at Toulouse where we have a lot of competition.

"There is competition at Toulouse and in the French team in various positions so anyone who produces some big games for Toulouse will have a great chance of playing in the World Cup."