The Blitzboks bowed out in the group stages of the Singapore Sevens after going down 12-7 to New Zealand in their third Pool A match.
Needing to beat the Kiwis by 30 points or more to progress to the Cup quarter-finals, the South Africans lost Shaun Williams, Ricardo Duarttee and Tiaan Pretorius to injury before their clash with the old rivals at the Singapore National Stadium.
Speedster Mfundo Ndhlovu dotted down under the posts to give the Blitzboks the perfect start, but Dylan Collier replied at the other end to make it 7-7 at half time, before Codemeru Vai crashed over in the right corner to clinch a 12-7 victory.
Earlier, the Blitzboks recovered from a 19-0 opening Pool A defeat to Australia for a 31-12 win against Hong Kong, but the Aussies thrashed the invitational side 48-0 to progress to the Cup knockouts with New Zealand.
SA will now face Ireland in the Plate quarter-finals at 5:56am on Sunday, but Blitzbok coach Sandile Ngcobo and his charges will have a mountain to climb with likely only 10 men left fit to play.
