I forget where, but the PotC writers once ranked the swordfighting skills and said that Will is the best, Norrington and Barbossa are next and pretty evenly matched, and Jack is the worst. And I saw a commentary (a million years ago) on that where the ranking was called into question because in the fight on the Isla Cruces, Norrington manages to knock Will down. And even though it's been a million years I'm still thinking about it.
Because the thing is that, sure, Will has excellent technique, excellent form, and follows the technically correct rules of engagement. (He is legitimately surprised when Jack Sparrow bests him by cheating, like he did not realize "cheating" was an option.) Will approaches a swordfight as a contest of skill.
Norrington looks at it like a fight, and he fights dirty. I mean, he grabs Will by the back of his coat, throws him to the ground, and kicks sand in his face (that last part might be mostly because he's being petty.) Then later he trips Jack when they're on that staircase. Also, you can't forget that during the Isla Cruces fight, Norrington is fueled by pure rage, so he has that going for him.
(Also, just because someone is "ranked" better than someone else, doesn't guarantee them an automatic win. I don't follow sports but I know what an "upset" is.)
So, would Will Turner win in a swordsmanship contest where they're being judged on form, technique, and aesthetics? Possibly. But could he beat Norrington in an actual fight? Not a chance.
Now, Norrington vs. Barbossa would be a good one.
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