Heineken cup draw: Idiots Guide Needed to fixtures

So they have just completed the pool draw, but I have absolutely no idea how this format works and whether it is even fair. 

All I can see is two pools with 12 teams in each, but each team will play 3 other teams with home and away games. I guess 6 games in total. So 3 home games. 

I guess who ever collect the most points go through to the top 16 where they will play another home and away before the quarters, semi and final. The final stages are not home and away. 

I just don't understand why they simply done have pools with 4 teams each in it? 

I don't understand at all. A world cup format is simple, you have your pool games, get out of that into the knockout rugby but I think they are trying to get more cross border games. 

But I also think the teams that doesn't make it out of the 24 moves automatically over to the champions cup. So basically get relegated. 

Champions Cup draw:
Pool A: Castres, Saracens, Bulls, Lyon, Exeter Chiefs, Edinburgh, Bordeaux, Harlequins, Leinster, Ulster, Racing 92, Gloucester, Sharks.
Pool B: Montpellier, Leicester Tigers, Stormers, Clermont, London Irish, Ospreys, Toulouse, Northampton Saints, La Rochelle, Sale Sharks, Munster.

Each team plays just two other teams in group stage. So 4 games , 2 home 2 away. Top 8 from each pool of 12 go through to quarters. 

Its the format they came up with due to Covid disruption.

I had to watch the entire draw to try and figure it out but I think I got the just of it. Pretty much very similar in how the U/20 world champs are played, but it give the top seeds to player against "weaker" teams across competitions and create a bit of intrigue. 

Also, home and away fixtures against the same team to try and level it out. 

The the last 16 will also have home and away. 

Just a bit more traveling for SA teams and not sure how they will schedule it but at least we are on the same time zone

I read the SA teams would be playing all of their matches in Europe, even their alleged “ home “ games. 

No, but the invited Cheetahs team will play there home games in the challenge cup in Europe. Likely Italy.

It’s a ridiculous idea anyway.