I've just finished watching the entire game again - but with the benefit of hindsight. BTW: This is just my own opinion of course.
I think England started to lose it when, in the 25th minute at 21-0, they went for an easy 3 points in front of the posts. They had the momentum, Scotland were reeling, and they should have continued with the pressure. Were they in fact starting to tire by then? In the 27th minute, Genge gave away a soft and silly penalty. Scotland kicked for a 5 metre line out but lost the ball when going for the line and (somewhat against the run of play at the time) England went the length of the pitch to take it to 31-0. Shortly after, Farrell made a bit of a balls of a kick, got charged down by McInally who went on to score. May completely missed what should have been an easy tackle at this level. In the final minute (score 31-7), England had a penalty and for some reason went for an attacking line out which failed to increase the score. IMO: Farrell got his decisions on both penalties wrong: in the 25th minute, he should have tried for an attacking line out and in the 39th minute, he should have taken what was probably an easy 3 points. In the final 10 minutes or so of the first half England's line speed had quite noticeably dropped which is why Scotland were beginning to come back into the game.
Half time 31-7. An international side which has any pretensions of winning the WC should put this game to bed by controlling the game, smothering the oppo who have to play, by picking up penalties and possibly drop goals which seem to have gone out of fashion - was there any in the entire tournament? Instead England played like a side who were chasing a game not like a side who were 24 points ahead. They lost their structure both in attack and defence and were obviously tiring. Scotland are the type of side which thrives on chaos and England handed the game to them. I think it is a bit of a shame that England managed to salvage the game. Scotland deserved a win with that spirit. If they'd got May into touch very near the end then they would probably have held out.
Once again Farrell got very lucky and didn't see a card. On another day he'd have been in the bin. One day he will cost England with his tackle technique. I don't think he should be skipper. Apart from the fact I don't like captains outside the pack, he doesn't have a cool head in a crisis. However, I don't see a captain who is guaranteed his place in the pack.
Scotland were the fitter side. Something is clearly wrong with England's preparation and training. This isn't the first game that they have gone off with a bang and then faded. They are over coached and over trained. Billy Vunipola was almost anonymous yesterday. I doubt if his bulk is all muscle. Has he yet to regain full match fitness after his run of injuries? Is he possibly carrying another knock? England desperately need a fully fit and firing Maro and Mako back in the ranks.
I am not a fan of Jones, as many on here know. Basically he's not as good or as smart as he thinks he is. I doubt if he listens at all when someone questions him. A fatal personality flaw. By all accounts, Gats is a great listener. The players Jones keeps on choosing, sometimes out of position, are all his boys but the wheels have a tendency to fall off when things don't go absolutely according to plan and nobody can get a grip and bring things back on course. Remember these players are top professionals. Is it too late to change? Almost certainly. We'll just have to make the best of it with what we've got. I think that England will need luck on their side to make much of an impact in Japan. If things don't run their way then it will probably be another early exit.