All Blacks Sevens dumped out in Singapore quarterfinals

Sonny Bill Williams looks on from the bench for the All Blacks Sevens. Photo / Getty

The All Blacks Sevens are out of the Cup stages in Singapore after falling 12-7 to South Africa in the quarter-final.

Neil Powell's charges exacted some revenge after New Zealand had knocked them out of the playoffs at the Vancouver and Hong Kong tournaments.

All the scoring was done in the first spell in a physical clash in which South Africa had the edge at the breakdown. Seabelo Senatla scored the first after the ball was spread swiftly to the flanks.

New Zealand have started the same seven in each of their four matches in Singapore, and the omnipresent Kurt Baker then sparked them with a step and sprint off a lineout for their only try.

South African skipper Kyle Brown allowed his team to retake the lead after some quick ball.

Sonny Bill Williams was solid on defence and got away three offloads but again New Zealand lacked the pace, guile and personnel to exploit a strong South African defensive wall.

Captain Liam Messam was sinbinned at the fulltime whistle after being penalised for holding on just metres from the South African line.

Coach Gordon Tietjens will be anxiously awaiting the return of his Super Rugby stars, the Ioane brothers and Ardie Savea, not to mention Tim Mikkelson, and DJ Forbes.

New Zealand will now play Australia in the Plate semifinals at 7.44pm NZT. Australia appeared to have their quarter-final in the bag but conceded two late tries to lose 19-14 to Fiji.

New Zealand will now slip back to third on the World Series standings with just two events to come next month in Paris and London.

South Africa 12 (Seabelo Senatla, Kyle Brown tries; Justin Geduld con)
New Zealand 7 (Kurt Baker try; Gillies Kaka con) HT: 12-7