New Zealand's forwards coaches can only blame themselves if the Wallabies scrum finally holds firm to break a 25-year drought at Eden Park.

Powerhouse prop Sekope Kepu is the man they let slip through their fingers after converting him from a "chubby" back-rower just six years ago when he dreamt of being an All Black.

He is now Australia's biggest Mr Fix-It heading into Saturday week's Bledisloe Test after filling the huge void left by world-class loose-head Benn Robinson's knee injury.

The 120kg Kepu has slotted seamlessly into Robinson's No.1 Wallabies jersey with a powerful display in the 39-20 Tri-Nations victory over South Africa on the weekend.

After impressing at tight-head all season for the NSW Waratahs, Kepu was surprisingly switched to the other side of the scrum when Robinson ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament before the humiliating 32-23 loss to Samoa.

But it's hardly been the biggest transition made by the Sydney-born, Auckland-raised Tongan product - thanks to New Zealand scrum guru Mike Cron and All Blacks forwards coach Steve Hansen.

Cron, Hansen and current Samoa coach Aussie McLean converted Kepu to a loose-head prop when he was in the New Zealand Under-19 team for the 2005 world junior titles in South Africa.

Kepu admitted he was "probably a bit chubby for a No.8" but that didn't stop him from attempting to revert to the back-row for more ball-running when he returned to club rugby for Manurewa.

"After I came back, I thought I'd try and sneak back into the back-row," he said on Monday. "Steve Hansen got wind of it and he gave me a phone call and said 'mate, get back in the front-row'.

"If I get the chance to play against the All Blacks, it would be a massive moment.

"And to do it somewhere like Eden Park, it would be pretty special."

The Wallabies haven't won at New Zealand's spiritual home of rugby since 1986, and it's up front in the scrums and at the breakdown where they have traditionally been overpowered.

The ground also has bad memories for Kepu, who broke his collarbone there while playing for Counties-Manukau in the opening round of the 2007 NPC.

The injury effectively cost him a place in the Chiefs' Super Rugby squad, but did result in a swift shift to the Waratahs, a change in allegiances and three Tests for the Wallabies on the 2008 Spring Tour.

"Management spoke to (then NSW coach) Ewen McKenzie and the rest was history; I came over here and never looked back."

With Robinson still hoping for a miraculous recovery in time for the World Cup, Kepu will have Australia's toughest job on August 6.

In trying to nullify an All Blacks scrum he describes as "almost flawless", the 25-year-old will go head-to-head with former New Zealand U-21 teammate Owen Franks.

"He's come a long way and he's a lot bigger now and he's got to be up there as one of the top tight-heads (in the world) now so it's going to be a tough task coming up against him," he said.

"We can't fool ourselves thinking that we've done the job (against the Springboks).

"We have to prepare for the worst and go in to do the job next week."

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