Thursday 8 December 2016 06:53, UK
England coach Eddie Jones believes his team are nowhere near their peak, despite a record-equalling run of victories.
England defeated Australia in emphatic fashion on Saturday to close out a perfect 2016 and equal their previous record of 14 successive victories, 13 of which have come under Jones.
Jones has transformed England since succeeding Stuart Lancaster in November 2015, capturing the country's first Six Nations Grand Slam since Sir Clive Woodward's World Cup winners managed the feat in 2003 before mastermining a 3-0 series victory in Australia.
However, despite the successes, Jones believes his side are capable of more with his ultimate aim to overhaul New Zealand as the best team in the world.
Speaking on Sky Sports News HQ, Jones said: "We have not played anywhere near as well as we can so that is the exciting thing about it.
"Our record is terrific and we are happy with the record but we are not happy with our performances. We are aiming to be the No 1 team in the world so there is still plenty of growth in us."
England's progress under Jones was perfectly illustrated by the manner of their 37-21 victory over the Wallabies on Saturday.
England's performance highlighted the areas Jones has been striving to improve since taking over.
"The first area was we needed to get fitter so that was pretty easy to fix," Jones said. "By the way we train, we have gotten fitter but we probably have another 10 or 12 per cent left to improve in, which is good going forward.
"Then it was about getting clarity in the way we wanted to play the game so everyone understood what we would do in certain situations.
"The team has developed in their ability to work out situations for themselves and to come out of difficult games and find a way to win.
"That is the most important thing about international rugby. International rugby is about finding those crucial moments in the game and doing things well. We have become much better at doing that."
England will have the opportunity to break their record for successive Test victories when they host France at Twickenham on February 4, in their opening game of the Six Nations.
If England were to capture another Grand Slam, they would become the first side in history to achieve the feat in consecutive seasons, while also breaking New Zealand's newly-set record of 18 successive Test victories in the process.
"We have got an opportunity to do something no other team has ever done and that is put back-to-back Grand Slams together," Jones said. "That is what we are aiming to do.
"We want to be the No 1 team in the world. We talk about it all the time. The great thing is now the players are starting to talk about it.
"If you say something enough times, people believe it."
When asked which of England's Six Nations rivals have made the most progress over the past 12 months, Jones said: "Definitely France and Ireland.
"Ireland have been impressive. They have obviously had that win against the All Blacks. They are very well coached by Joe Schmidt and they have produced some good young players so they have really improved.
"France are starting to get their old spirit back. I think the coach has done a great job in regenerating a French style of play and they have always had talented players so I am anticipating our first game is going to be our most difficult."
Once the Six Nations is over, attentions will begin to turn towards this summer's British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
England forwards coach Steve Borthwick was confirmed as one of Warren Gatland's assistants for the tour on Wednesday - a move Jones believe will ultimately prove beneficial for England in their quest to surpass the All Blacks at the pinnacle of the game.
Jones said: "He [Borthwick] gets the chance to learn about New Zealand rugby culture. He gets the chance to play basically ten Tests against the best players in New Zealand.
"By the end of it, if he hasn't beaten New Zealand he should know how to beat New Zealand.
"But he is a very analytical coach and a very serious coach. He knows more about lineouts than anyone else in the world."
