Game over.

Munster’s slim hopes of qualifying for this knockout stages of this season’s European Champions Cup are all but over before a ball has even been kicked in their pool tomorrow.

The southern province needed a minor miracle to have a chance of qualifying following last weekend’s defeat to Racing 92 in Paris and results couldn’t have gone worse for them today.

Northampton came from behind to claim what for a long time looked like an unlikely bonus-point win away from home to Lyon to overtake them in the table with Glasgow set to do the same against Sale at the AJ Bell.

They’ve for a huge lead at the moment over Steve Diamond’s side with a try-bonus already in the bag. Should they win, Munster will be out of the competition no matter what happens in their game or the clash between Saracens and Racing 92.

A hugely disappointing campaign for the two-time champions but they have been very unlucky with injuries. Add in the fact that Stephen Larkham and Graham Rowntree are in their first season with the latter arriving late and it was always going to be a tricky season.

They must now regroup and focus on trying to win the PRO14 so they will get a favourable seeding next season in the competition.