‘We’re not playing in Australia’: Rams HC Sean McVay makes feelings clear after 49ers loss
· Yahoo Sports
Sean McVay has made his feelings clear on the Los Angeles Rams’ trip to Australia, joking that he hopes the team never has to play there again after their 27-7 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.
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The Rams arrived in Melbourne roughly 24 hours before the season opener at the MCG, while the 49ers had been in Australia for a full week. Los Angeles struggled throughout the game as San Francisco secured a convincing victory.
McVay was asked about the defeat again on Thursday as the Rams prepared to face the New York Giants in Week 2. His response was hardly a glowing review of the trip.
Photo by David Crane/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News via Getty ImagesSean McVay wants the Rams to stay away from Australia
“It’s almost like you try to do the Men in Black thing where you say, ‘Hey, I don’t remember what happened. That was so long ago,’” McVay told reporters. “We’re not playing in Australia ever again, I hope. Not because it wasn’t a great atmosphere, that’ll get taken out of context.”
The short turnaround became a major talking point after the Rams’ defeat, with the 49ers’ longer stay in Melbourne contrasting sharply with Los Angeles’ brief visit.
Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who has experience travelling between the US and Australia, had already suggested teams should arrive earlier.
“I would have recommended going out early,” Mailata said. “The flight is so long that I don’t think 24 hours is enough to wash out that flight itself.”
Denver Broncos punter Jeremy Crawshaw also warned about the effects of the journey, saying, “Every time I’ve done that (fly to or from Australia), I’ve been wrecked for a couple of days, whether it be jet lag or the body just not feeling right.”
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty ImagesHowever, not everyone around the Rams wanted to blame the travel for the result. Matthew Stafford said he felt ready to play, while Davante Adams was even more direct.
“We can sit here and try to make excuses and say it’s because of the flight all we want. But at the end of the day, I didn’t feel tired,” Adams said. “They played better than we did and that’s what I attribute that to more than the flight.”
McVay now has the Giants in front of him at SoFi Stadium, giving the Rams an immediate chance to move past their Australia experience.
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