Australia saved their best until last but a two-point defeat to South Africa was still enough to ensure they missed the Cup finals on day two.
The Aussies made the final last week but their chances of backing up in Paris were ruined with a poor opening day, drawing with Kenya, and losing to Wales and the Blitzboks.
Australia will play for minor placings and then concentrate on the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in November in Fiji.
3.20am: SOUTH AFRICA 19 AUSTRALIA 17
A slow start hurt Australia - and potentially cost them a finals spot - against the relentlessly clinical South African team.
Entering the last game needing to beat the defending Paris champs by six points to qualify for Cup quarters action on day two (courtesy of Kenya's 5-point win over Wales), the Aussies went down two tries within the opening three minutes.
It looked as if Tim Walsh's side would capitulate further soon after when Jeral Skelton was sent to the bin; the third yellow card in as many games conceded by Australia.
A massive result in Pool B as @OfficialKRU make it through to the Cup quarter-finals along with @Blitzboks #ParisSevens pic.twitter.com/ndcLJoM3W3
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 1, 2019
But somehow the Aussies used it to their advantage, scoring through Matt Hood and Maurice Longbottom.
South Africa pushed out to 19-10 when Impi Visser scored in the corner, but Australia kept fighting and debutant Will Maddocks scored with his first touch after a memorable slo run down the left sideline.
Still needing two scores, time got away from Australia.
Maddocks almost scored again near the siren but the play broke down and South Africa finished a remarkable run of topping their pool in every World Series tournament this year.
For Australia it was yet another tournament of failing to display composure and smarts in the tight moments; an absence made all the more frustrating in the wake of their apparent breakthrough tournament in London a week earlier.
Their attention now turns to the Oceania Olympic qualifying tournament in November.
12pm: WALES 24 AUSTRALIA 7
Wales are in a fight to maintain their status on the main World Sevens Series tour next year but that didn't stop them knocking off Australia.
In a second consecutive poor performance, the Aussies conceded four tries and scored just one to drop their first game against the 13th-ranked Welsh side in 14 clashes.
In what has become a habit for the Australian side, last week's energy and offensive potency was missing against Wales and the northerners did all the threatening.
THIS is how you finish.
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 1, 2019
Unreal from Joe Goodchild. Unreal. @WelshRugbyUnion #DHLRugby #ParisSevens pic.twitter.com/ZQB9SSIMP7
Owen Jenkins scored first and Maurice Longbottom replied soon after, but two tries from Joe Goodchild - including one while captain Lewis Hamilton was in the bin - killed off the Australian hopes.
A run away try at the siren piled on the misery for the Aussies, who must now topple the unbeaten Blitzboks, and hope Kenya beat Wales but narrowly to avoid having a better for-and-against, in the last round to make the playoffs.
8.25pm: KENYA 19 AUSTRALIA 19
The Aussies were on a high after making the final in London last weekend but their chances of making another decider were dealt a blow with a 19-all result with the big Africans.
The Kenyans had, in fact, dominated for most of the game and Matt Hood scored in the final minute to draw level.
Lewis Holland had a conversion attempt to win from about 10 metres to the right of the posts but his drop kick missed.
The Kenyans had a chance to win after the siren when Australia were reduced to six men due to Ben O'Donnell being sin-binned.
Man on a mission.
— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) June 1, 2019
Josh Coward goes loooooong at the #ParisSevens
🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃🏃@Aussie7s #DHLRugby pic.twitter.com/lyckyQ7SqU
But strangely they elected to kick a drop-goal penalty attempt from 35 metres out, and it missed.
The Aussies will likely need to beat Wales and South Africa in their final two pool games to qualify for the quarter-finals.
To make matters worse, rising talent Lachie Miller suffered a nasty leg injury when stretched awkwardly in a tackle and will miss the rest of the tournament.
Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Fixtures, Paris:
Saturday June 1
Australia v Kenya, 8.06pm AEST
Australia v Wales, 11.32pm AEST
Sunday June 2
Australia v South Africa, 2.58am AEST
AUSTRALIA SEVENS TEAM
1. Henry Hutchison, Randwick, NSW, 25 caps
2. Simon Kennewell, Randwick, NSW, 18 caps
3. Henry Vanderglas, 6 caps
4. Lewis Holland (c), Queanbeyan, ACT, 46 caps
5. Ben O’Donnell, Randwick, NSW, 17 caps
6. Lachlan Miller, Randwick, NSW, 5 caps
7. Joe Pincus, Easts (Sydney), Queensland, 5 caps
8. Jeral Skelton, Brothers, Queensland, 13 caps
9. Josh Coward, Souths (Melbourne), Queensland, 4 caps
10. Matt Hood, Sydney University, NSW, 5 caps
11. Maurice Longbottom, LMRDT, NSW, 14 caps
12. Lachlan Anderson, Eastwood, NSW, 21 caps
13th Will Maddocks, Easts (Sydney), NSW, uncapped
