If you pit a regular adult man against a regular adult orc, the orc wins. An orc's natural build completely outclasses an adult man.
But if you pit a well-trained human soldier against a regular adult orc, the soldier wins. Sure, they might be a bit weaker strength-wise, but most soldiers train against orcs as their hypothetical enemy when learning to deal with monsters.
So what happens when well-trained human soldiers fight well-trained orc soldiers? From that point on, it comes down to how good their training is.
Humans try to beat orcs with technique, while orcs try to crush humans with raw power. In the end, whoever's got the better elite troops determines who wins the battle—and the war.
And all those assumptions?
"Graaaah!!"
They all get torn to shreds in the face of overwhelming power.
Thwack.
I slam an axe into the collarbone of a cavalryman on his horse. One axe in the neck, and I swing the other one over his shoulder.
"Aaaagh!"
