Australian men’s netball team divides fans with ‘cringe’ pre-match dance: ‘Raygun levels of embarrassment’

The Australian men’s netball team has left fans divided after the side’s pre-tournament dance performance on the opening day of netball’s Fast5 series in Christchurch.

The Aussie side, known as the Kelpies, got the crowd on their feet before their first match on Saturday with their dance routine to NSync’s Bye Bye Bye.

The crowd in Christchurch’s Wolfbrook Arena responded well to the choreographed moves – and commentators also lapped it up.

‘Amazing! If you ever wanted to be part of a boy band and do the choreographed dance, that was the chance, and they absolutely nailed it, Australia,’ one declared.

However, it was a different story online, with fans mostly roasting the performance.

‘This is cringe,’ posted one fan.

‘A big NO!!!!’ replied another.

‘Why does Australia have to constantly embarrass me,’ posted a third.

Others were quick to compare the dance moves to Australian breakdancing sensation Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn.

‘That’s Raygun levels of embarrassment. Genuinely shameful and I cannot believe they did it. Hope they got smoked,’ posted one X user.

‘Raygun was their coach,’ said another.

However, there was also fans who thought the Kelpies stole the show.

‘Men’s netball is so iconic. All you haters can buzz off,’ posted one.

‘That was fun! I might even watch netball if they play as fun & good as they dance,’ said another.

The Aussies went on to beat South Africa, opening their Fast5 with a 42-27 win

To cap the dance off, the Aussies beat South Africa to open their Fast5 with a 42-27 win.

Unlike usual netball, Fast5 has just five players on each team, six-minute quarters, and two and three-point shots.

Fast5 is a little like the Big Bash of netball, the tournament boasts pyrotechnics, bright uniforms, loud music and choreographed team dances.