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You arent killed in a rugby scrum if you make a mistake psychology makes an immense difference. Keep in mind that the spear is considered by many cultures to be the king of the battlefield. My own experience suggests that someone with a few scant hours with a spear can defeat experienced swordsman most of the time. But how was spear phalanx conducted? We dont know. We can simulate, but without the psychology of death we cant know.
Take a pike wall..All our simulations and attempts to reproduce a clash between pikes indicates gruesome casualties in the first few ranks when two pike walls meet. the first few ranks on both are always annihilated. Given that casualties for the vanguard are close to 100% how exactly did pike combat happen? how would you convince people to take the front ranks, knowing they would most certainly die? How were the greatswords used in the pikewall? it takes several whacks to break a pike with a greatsword, and in that time you are being poked multiple times. So what were they used for? We dont really know.
If it is just spear versus just a sword sure, I sure the spear will win. But if swordsman has a big shield, I am sure the playing field is more even.
If Spearmen also has a shield, he still be more cumbersome with just one hand on the spear.
Did the pikemen have shields? I know the Swiss were famous for their pikemen, and they were used heavily against cavalry.