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Rams Arrive in Australia Ahead of Week 1 Matchup with 49ers
The Rams made a brief trip before kickoff while the 49ers arrived early to adjust to a 17-hour time difference, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Rams arrived in Melbourne roughly 24 hours before their Friday season opener against the San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, completing a 16-hour flight from California.
While the 49ers arrived on September 4 to acclimate to the 17-hour time difference, the Rams deliberately maintained their California routine until the last possible moment, aiming to minimize travel fatigue during the nearly 8,000-mile journey.
The Rams traveled without defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who remained inactive for Week 1, while transporting approximately 25,000 pounds of equipment packed into 90 cases across the Pacific.
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan dismissed travel-strategy concerns, stating, "I don't think there's an answer to that," and suggested player performance, not scheduling, would decide the game.
Rams head coach Sean McVay holds a 3-0 record in international games with a combined 92-17 score, positioning the organization to leverage international marketing rights in Australia and New Zealand.