Ireland will face two-time Olympic champions Fiji in the quarter-finals after losing to New Zealand.
Ireland were 12-0 up at the break but their opponents scored two converted tries without reply after the break.
That secured an easier-looking last-eight clash against South Africa whereas Ireland will now have to overcome powerhouse Fiji.
Fiji won gold at both the Rio and Tokyo Games and reached the knockout stages with a 100 percent record after defeating hosts France earlier today.
James Topping’s side will be underdogs when they face the Pacific Islanders at the Stade de France at 9pm Irish time this evening.
They had started strongly. Zak Ward shaped to pass inside but instead turned the after-burners on to speed past Fehi Fineanganofo and touch down.
Mark Roche missed the conversion but he did add the extras when Ireland bagged a second try just before the break after Terry Kennedy picked out Jordan Conroy.
Conroy injured himself in grounding the ball but, as a team, Ireland were in a strong position at the break.
But New Zealand dragged themselves back into contention within a minute of the restart when Larcy Carter broke from deep and avoided an attempted tap tackle by Chay Mullins with his try successful converted.
And Ireland’s failure to make pressure on the New Zealand line count after they coughed up a penalty.
Their opponents slowly worked the ball up the field with Ngarohi McGarvey-Black going over before Andrew Knewstubb converted.