ESCALDES-ENGORDANY, Andorra -- The gap between world No. 2 England and the top-ranked New Zealand All Blacks is a considerable gap, but not an insurmountable gap, according to England coach Eddie Jones.Speaking to ESPN during his visit to the Tour de France, Jones said his England side deserved their world No. 2 ranking, which they earned during their tour of Australia last month. They beat the Wallabies 3-0 in the Test series.Jones, who took over the England coaching job from Stewart Lancaster after the rugby powers World Cup failure last year, is adamant that his side can reach greater heights. While he is between seasons right now, the former Wallabies coach is doing all he can to prepare for Englands next campaign. And he is seeking far and wide for that extra edge. Hence his visit to the Tour, where he saw Englands Chris Froome (Sky) defend his overall lead in Sundays stage. Jones saw it all from the Australian Orica-BikeExchange team car.Jones said he found the experience in which riders raced in conditions that went from searing heat (36 degrees Celsius) and humidity to rain and hail at the finish absolutely fascinating.To get to see how hard the riders work, how much courage they have to have, was a real experience for me, the Australian said. Certainly we can look to prepare the rugby players better than we have.With time to reflect on Englands Australian tour in June -- and with the incoming Tests in November and then next years Six Nations -- Jones said the team just needs to play a lot better.We werent defensively good in the series, he said. We allowed Australia much too much time and space with the ball. So we can really improve on that. Our set piece was inconsistent. So for us, when we look at that series, its very positive on how much we can improve.World Rugby rankings change constantly, but Jones said England had earned its current pegging and stressed the importance of maintaining or bettering it. They change quickly, but thats what World Rugby [rely on for] their seedings for the World Cup. So they are very important, he said. While we are ranked second in the world, we know we have a long way to beat the All Blacks.Since the Australian tour, time has reinforced Jones viewpoint that Englands greatest area to work on is consistency. And he feels that the Tour de France is a great example of that trait. That was one of the things about coming to the Tour de France, Jones said. These guys are consistent. They have to cycle for 21 days with only two rest days. Consistency of performance is vital. That is what we want with England, to be consistent with every Test.There is so much talent in English rugby. We have only just touched the surface at the moment. We have got to keep working hard. We have to keep striving to be the best. If we do that consistently, we will achieve our dream. Ryan Kesler Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Giovanni Fiore Jersey . In the lead up - which seemed to begin the moment Mike Geiger blew the whistle in Houston last Thursday night - the Impact rumour mill went into overdrive. The speculation went into meltdown mode, of the golden nugget variety. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Carter-rowney-ducks-jersey/ . -- Nate Robinson has played for seven teams, so beating one of them is no longer a rare occurrence. Josh Manson Jersey . -- Devin Hester is done returning kicks in Chicago. Ryan Getzlaf Ducks Jersey . Ferrer, trying to win his fourth title on Mexican soil, will next play South Africas Kevin Anderson, who eliminated American Sam Querrey,7-6 (2), 6-4. Also Wednesday, Gilles Simon (6) of France beat Donald Young of the United States 6-4, 6-3, Ukraines Alexandr Dolgopolov downed Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-3, 6-4 and Croatias Ivo Karlovic defeated Dudi Sela of Israel 7-6 (4), 6-2.Birmingham manager Gary Rowett will be without striker James Vaughan and midfielder Stephen Gleeson is also a doubt ahead of the Thursday night visit of Hull in the Championship, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm. Vaughan has a calf injury and Gleeson is suffering from illness which affected him during the 2-0 defeat at QPR on Saturday.Gleeson started the game and Vaughan was a substitute, coming on for the last 19 minutes, but the latters injury could force Rowett to dip into the loan market as he will be out for two weeks. Stephen Gleeson is a doubt for Birmingham Rowett, whose side have won only one of their last five Sky Bet Championship games to stand eighth in the table and four points off a play-off place, is already without striker Nicolai Brock-Madsen because of a quad muscle injury but is also considering a return to the first-team squad for rising star Viv Solomon-Otabor. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship match between QPR and Birmingham A point would be enough to return Hull to thhe summit although former Birmingham manager Steve Bruce will be targeting three against his old club but what will be concerning him is a lack of goals as his side have scored just one in their last four games in all competitions.ddddddddddddBruce, who can look to a side who have secured wins in their last two away Championship fixtures, has to decide whether to give on-loan Manchester United midfielder Nick Powell a starting berth at St Andrews. Steve Bruce is heading back to his former club looking for three points Powell played in the 0-0 FA Cup draw at Arsenal and came off the bench to feature in the goalless home draw with Sheffield Wednesday last time out.Bruce has a fully fit squad to choose from for the trip to St Andrews, with on-loan Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom also pushing for a starting place. Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Hull and Sheffield Wednesday Watch Birmingham v Hull live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.30pm on Thursday. Or watch for £6.99 without a contract, on NOW TV. ' ' '