John Mitchell believes England can usurp the All Blacks as the world's best rugby team by the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The former All Blacks coach was recently appointed by Eddie Jones as defence coach for a side that lost five consecutive tests in 2018.
The 54-year-old's ascension to the England fold was slammed by British media, pointing to Mitchell's horror year at the helm of the Bulls, who finished 2018 as the second-worst defensive side in Super Rugby.
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Mitchell, who coached the All Blacks from 2001 through to an unsuccessful 2003 World Cup campaign, told the UK's Daily Telegraph that his near 20-year coaching career will serve him well as part of the England setup.
"I've seen the movie a few times; made lots of mistakes," said Mitchell. "I am very comfortable in my own skin in where I am at and what I've got to do.
"I really believe that England can get better and be the best within a year's time - I really do believe that. Why? Because of what I've seen in the past.
"They [the All Blacks] are outstanding, but I guess what gives us all life is that it is a World Cup year - and a World Cup does close the gap."
Mitchell applauded the All Blacks for forcing the rest of the world to step up, acknowledging Steve Hansen's side have changed the way the game is played.
But the former Waikato captain pointed to South Africa's recent upset as proof the All Blacks are beatable, more so come the pressure cooker of defending two World Cup titles.
"It's knockout rugby and you just need to focus on being the better team yourself. New Zealand have set the benchmark and sent out the signal to all of us 'you come and get us'. That's what we intend to do."
Jones has been forced to make changes to his staff after a horror 2018 campaign which saw losses against Wales, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa twice.
The former Wallabies mentor had turned around a horror 2015 World Cup result where the home side failed to make it out of pool play, winning his first 18 tests in charge matching the All Blacks' world record for a tier one nation.
Mitchell believes Jones' pedigree to be one of the best in world rugby and is confident the two can work together as England pursue a second World Cup win in Japan.
"I've got an enormous amount of respect for the way Eddie goes about things and who wouldn't want to work underneath him?" Mitchell said.
"If you don't have that kind of environment, how can you make someone better? A lot of us 50-year-old coaches in the world wouldn't be around if we didn't look to evolve and get better."
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