49ers arrive early in Melbourne, Rams gamble on late flight
San Francisco landed a week before kickoff, while Los Angeles delays its trip until 9 September, betting on the tactic that worked in last season's London win.
The 49ers landed in Melbourne at 7:50am local time on Friday, more than a week before kickoff. The Rams do not plan to leave for Australia until 9 September, arriving less than 24 hours before the opening snap.
San Francisco's flight covered 12,600 km in just over 15 hours. The team trains Saturday, then moves to a normal weekly schedule from Monday.
The Rams are betting on the opposite approach: push the long haul as close to kickoff as possible. Los Angeles used the same plan before a Week game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars last season and won big. The Melbourne trip will be the longest in NFL history.
Aaron Donald is set to face the 49ers in the opener after his comeback, with Kyle Shanahan treating his return as certain even without confirmation from Sean McVay. McVay himself expects Puka Nacua and Alaric Jackson to play despite the NFL's ongoing review of misconduct cases against both. For San Francisco, George Kittle and Nick Bosa will make the trip, though Kittle's own status for the game remains unresolved.
Kickoff is set for 11 September at 10:35am local time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, 03:35 Moscow time.
If the Rams' late arrival leaves players fatigued in the opening quarters, San Francisco's week of acclimatisation could matter early. A repeat of the London result would suggest travel timing changes little once the game starts.
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