NFL star Byron Young has been nothing short of impressed with the LA Rams’ travel treatment as the team jetted into Melbourne ahead of their clash against the San Francisco 49ers at the MCG.
After a near-15 hour journey from Los Angeles International Airport, Rams players touched down in Melbourne at 6.02am on Thursday for Friday’s historic showdown, news.com.au reports.
Young gave fans a glimpse inside the team’s Qantas flight QF338 in an Instagram video showing off the A380’s “boujee” cabin.
“I feel so boujee right now,” Young said to the camera with a giggle before turning it around to reveal the plane’s spacious interior.
“Full size, this is crazy.”
Text overlay on the screen suggested that the jumbo jet had the outside linebacker’s tick of approval.
“Byron Young is a big fan of the Rams’ plane,” it read.
Several of the players were photographed carting their luggage through the terminal at Melbourne International Airport.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie was spotted sporting his comfiest attire for the long-haul flight, wearing black tracksuit pants and a black hoodie.
Teammate Jaylen Watson ditched the layers and was seen wearing grey tracksuit shorts and a white graphic t-shirt.
Quentin Lake strolled through the terminal in a cobalt blue jersey and beanie as he wheeled a silver suitcase and carried a Louis Vuitton duffel bag.
The Rams’ down-to-the-wire arrival comes amid heated debate over the rival teams’ opposing travel plans.
Unlike the Rams, the 49ers made the decision to travel Down Under a week before Friday’s showdown, giving players time to adjust to the significant 17-hour time difference.
San Francisco future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams said he didn’t think that flying in the day before would impact the teams’ performance.
“To me it’s tomatoes to tomato,” Williams told reporters in Melbourne.
“The good thing about it is, when you play a game, you’ve got a lot of adrenaline, so I don’t think that will be as big as a factor as people think.”
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Renowned American sports doctor Jesse Morse said the Rams’ strategy was all about, “minimising the impact of the travel on their circadian rhythms”.
“The theory (is) the Rams players’ bodies won’t have enough time for the jet lag and time zones to kick in and impact them,” Dr Morse posted on X.
“The 49ers are … going a week early to allow their bodies to get acclimated and to properly hydrated, which seems to take about three days.”
Australian Border Force even weighed in on the debate, choosing to take a cheeky swipe at the Rams.
“Hey Los Angeles Rams. We hear you’re arriving just 24 hours before kick-off in Melbourne. Brave,” the force said in a Facebook post.
The MCG clash marks a major moment for the NFL in Australia, with thousands of American football fans expected to pack the famous stadium.
Rams vs 49ers airs on Friday from 8.35am on Seven and 7plus Sport.
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