Australia have lost their final two matches to finish equal seventh at the World Rugby Sevens in Cape Town.
The team is on 25 points and in sixth place overall after the stop in South Africa on Sunday.
Australia started strongly in Cape Town, winning all three pool stage matches against Canada, Scotland and Wales on Saturday.
But they failed to maintain momentum, losing 26-17 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals on Sunday.
In the fifth place semi-final Australia mounted a series of comebacks but they couldn't get the better of England.
Maurice Longbottom scored in the seventh minute to cancel out Will Muir's third-minute opener before the Australia star doubled his tally in the eighth minute.
England's Tom Mitchell put the sides level one minute later, before teammates Tom Bowen and Muir both scored within the next five minutes.
Australia's Tom Connor grabbed a late try in the 14th minute but it wasn't enough with England winning 24-21 to make the fifth place playoff.
Meanwhile, Fiji capitalised on mistake after mistake by the US to win the final 29-15, sending the Americans to a second straight defeat in a final after their loss to New Zealand in the Dubai decider.
The US is still leading the series standings by a single point.
Fiji scored four tries and led 22-0 before the US could respond as they clinched a first title in South Africa since 2005.
Kalione Nasoko was the first over for Fiji in the third minute as no US defender committed and he kept going down the left wing.
Vilimoni Botitu intercepted and raced away from deep inside Fiji's half for the second.
Sevuloni Mocenacagi scored off Perry Baker's error after he gave up possession when he broke through two half-hearted tackles.
Hosts South Africa won bronze, beating New Zealand 10-5.
England beat Spain 14-7 in the fifth place playoff, while Scotland finished equal seventh with Australia.
