Wow, no ones listening to each other in this thread. I don't agree with Psychic Ducks proposal, as I think the HC is fine as it is. But whatever the rules state, it should be perfectly obvious that the Semi Finals aren't played at neutral grounds. I wouldn't say they're home ties, but they're as close as possible, and I do think that could be changed, well in an ideal world anyway. I reality is that placing a game between say an English team and an Irish team in France (whilst fair to both sides) would result in a much smaller attendance. If or when the sport becomes bigger, and more popular, and you'd guarantee selling out the stadium, then this can be looked at, but I'd preser a Semi Final match played in front of 50,000 supporters (even if 80% of them are 'home' supporters), than playing in a neutral venue in front of 20,000 fans.
I don't think rugby lends itself to home and away ties. If one game is played on a dry, sunny day, and the other on a cold, windy, wet day, then the home team on the sunny day still has the advantage. Whilst it may be true at the moment that groups with Italian teams are almost guaranteed the winner having a home quarter, and then possibly a 'home' semi, this won't be true for much longer. We've gotta build towards a day where all teams are competative, and there are no easy games. In that case, the current system is fair, because you will then have propperly earn't the advantages in the knock-out stages. From watching the Magners League, playing away at Treviso next season ain't gonna be a walkover, so this is already coming true imo.
Overall, I understand Psychic Ducks reservations about the format of the HC, but I still think the current system is the best at this moment in time.
